1-2-3 Electrify! | Town of Superior, Colorado

Light turned on inside an outline of a house made out of a bosal wood type of material Electrifying your home and ride can take some time, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. The 1-2-3 Electrify Campaign is your step-by step guide to residential electrification, no matter where you are on your electrification journey. Use the information below to get started!

Looking for more hands-on-support? Join us for one or more in-person workshops, where we will walk you through each step and connect you with resources to make your journey easier and more cost effective. Each interactive event will include presentations and Q&A with local experts, industry experts, contractors, utility representatives, and city staff. The purchase event in July will be an expo style event that also includes an EV ride-and-drive and vendors showcasing home electrification technology. This workshop series will be delivered in partnership with Xcel Energy's Partners in Energy. Please register for each workshop below.

Introduction to Electrification: This event has concluded. Watch the video here!

Step 1. Plan: This event has concluded. Watch the video here!

Step 2. Purchase: This event has concluded. Watch the video here!

Step 3. Perfect: Aug. 15 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Louisville Recreation & Senior Center

What is electrification?

Electrification is the process of transitioning away from natural gas, gasoline and diesel to power buildings and vehicles with electricity. Electrification activities include improving energy efficiency, purchasing electric equipment, and powering equipment with renewable energy.

Understanding the Components of Electrification

There are a few key components of this process, which the table below helps define:

Behavior Change: Any actions you take at home to reduce or shift your energy use. Check out some easy, energy saving tips.
Building Envelope Improvement: Activities that increase your home’s ability to m temperature, such as adding insulation, sealing cracks (air sealing), or upgrading windows.
Electrifying Equipment: Switching appliances powered with fuels like gas, diesel, or propane, to more energy efficient appliances powered with electricity. Appliances include air source heat pumps, air source heat pump water heaters, inductive stoves, exc.
Electric Vehicle (EV)s: Plug-in hybrids and battery electric vehicles are two common choices that homeowners incorporate when they move from gas-powered to electric.
Adding Renewable Energy: Incorporating additional renewable energy allows homeowners to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Popular options include rooftop solar and solar subscriptions.

It’s as Easy as 1-2-3!

Follow these simple steps to get a greener, cleaner home and ride.

Plan: Establish your electrification goals and identify your electrification opportunities
Purchase: Invest in efficiency, electrification, and renewable energy
Perfect: Maximize your benefits and share your success

Check out Superior’s Beneficial Electrification Plan for more information on our approach to decarbonizing buildings, energy supply, and transportation.

Step 1. Make an electrification plan

Identify your baseline

Use your energy bill to help you answer questions like “how much energy do I currently use?” “when am I using the most energy?” and “how much am I spending each month on my energy bill?”

Not sure how to read your energy bill? Check out this How to Read Your Bill resource or this Reading Your Time of Use Bill flyer, if you use the Time of Use rate.

Set your electrification goals

Electrification is not a one-size-fits-all journey. Different investments will yield different benefits, so consider what benefits matter most to you. See the table below to explore the potential benefits of various electrification activities.

Identify your opportunities

Once you’ve established your goals, answer these questions to identify your electrification opportunities. Consider the following questions:

Behavior changes: What behavior changes can I make to reduce your energy use or shift your electricity to off-peak times.
Building efficiency: What opportunities exist to improve my home’s efficiency and ability to maintain internal temperature?
Electric equipment and appliances: What natural gas-powered equipment do I have? How effective is that equipment, and how can I find out if my natural gas boiler would benefit from a replacement with something more efficient?
Electric Vehicles: When will I next consider leasing or purchasing a vehicle? Do I need to upgrade my electric panel, or do I have access to a 120v outlet, the same outlet type used to charge a cellphone, to support at-home charging?
Renewable Energy: What is the solar potential of my home? How old is my roof and when will it need to be replaced? If rooftop solar is not a good fit for you, consider a renewable subscription to offset your electricity with renewable resources.

Want a professional to do the work for you? Consider getting a home energy assessment through Xcel Energy’s Home Energy Squad® program or through Boulder County’s EnergySmart Audit program.

Man looking at his bills in a kitchen dinning room.

Check out the resources available to support electrification planning:

Determine Your Panel’s Capacity

Electrifying building equipment, charging an EV, or installing rooftop solar can all add electricity load to your home. As a general guideline, a panel with less than 100 amps may need to be upgraded to accommodate new electric loads. Not sure about your panel’s capacity? Check out Rewiring America’s panel size guide.

Put it all together

Based on your findings from the steps above, which investments make sense to implement first – based on opportunity and impact? Note, you don’t need to have all the answers! In the next step you’ll leverage experts to help refine and implement your plan.

There are tons of rebates to help you lower your upfront costs, check out the resources section in Step 2. below.

Step 2. Purchase energy efficiency measures, electric equipment, and/or renewable energy

Remember, efficiency first

No matter what your electrification goals are, prioritizing efficiency first can help maximize your benefits by reducing the overall energy required to heat or cool your home.

Check out the resources available to help you with building efficiency improvements:

Make any necessary panel upgrades

If identified as a need, find a qualified electrician to increase the capacity of your electricity panel. Consider getting at least three quotes before selecting an electrician. Check out the resources available to help you with panel upgrades:

Purchase your electric equipment

Now that you know your plan and timeline, it’s time to go shopping! For equipment like air source heat pumps and heat pump water heaters, consider getting three quotes from qualified contractor. If you want to qualify for Xcel Energy rebates, you’ll want to use a contractor in Xcel Energy’s network.

For EVs, you can explore the EV that’s right for you based on your commute and budget with Xcel Energy’s vehicle browser or EV Colorado’s Find Your EV tool.

Check out the resources available to help you with equipment purchases:

Step 3. Perfect and refine

Once you’ve purchased your electric equipment, investing in renewable energy can help reduce GHG emissions.

Power your equipment with renewable energy

It’s important to consider how you will power all your new electric equipment. Subscription-based renewable energy and on-site solar are two popular options.

If you are looking to get solar panels installed on your roof, consider getting at least three quotes from residential solar contractors. Check out Xcel Energy’s tips on hiring a solar contractor to help you navigate your selection process.

Check out the resources available to help you with equipment purchases:

Celebrate your success

You’ve made progress toward your goals and now it’s time to celebrate! Share your electrification journey with sustainability@superiorcolorado.gov for a chance to have your story featured in a Town sustainability newsletter.

Establish a maintenance plan

Whether you’ve invested in a new air source heat pump, a new electric vehicle, or rooftop solar, establishing a maintenance routine can help maximize the benefits of your purchase. Consider scheduling annual maintenance for your equipment to ensure all systems are working as effectively as possible!

Consider next steps: perfect your electrification journey

Congratulations, you’ve taken the first steps towards reaching your electrification goals! Now, consider exploring additional measures that bring you closer to your goal. Thank you for doing your part in achieving our community-wide, climate action goals.