When you’re looking at a home improvement project, it’s always good to have a few more tools in the toolbox. And if that project happens to be home electrification, we’ve got some solid suggestions for you.

For the unfamiliar, electrification is when you take a building’s appliances or key functions – like the oven, hot water heater or HVAC system – and make them all-electric instead of relying on a carbon-based fuel like natural gas. There are a lot of good reasons to consider this, including indoor air quality, a smaller carbon footprint and even the possibility of some energy savings when up-to-date equipment is paired with energy efficiency measures.  

So how do you get plugged into all this? Here are some starting points:

• Rewiring America recently revamped its site with an easy-to-use personal electrification planner for homeowners and some useful information for renters as well.
• If you’re curious about electrical cooking, Boulder County offers the opportunity to try out an induction cooktop through its lending program. There’s no cost; all you have to do is sign up, pick up the cooktop and some information about induction cooking, and then bring it back in two weeks. Like a library book, but tastier.
• Our own building electrification page has a lot of useful basics and links, including information on how to find tax credits and rebates. You can also find solid basics from our friends at Efficiency Works and from Colorado’s own LoveElectric.
• We’ve given some advice in this blog before on “step zero”, the things to think about before you start an electrification project, like finding a contractor, checking your electrical panel or even making sure you have the right cookware.

Go ahead, look through it all. It’s a great way to power up your knowledge and your opportunities.

After all, sometimes it pays to think inside the box … as long as the box has enough in it.