Mapping Electrical Barriers: Efficient Fuel Switching in Income Qualified Homes

Attend this CARD webinar to review a market study conducted by Slipstream Inc. that identifies building, technology, and market barriers and opportunities that influence the adoption of efficient fuel-switching technologies (EFS), such as air source heat pumps and heat pump water heaters, among Minnesota's income-qualified (IQ) single-family households.

The objectives of the study were to: 

1. Characterize the existing literature, policy landscape, and incentive environment shaping EFS for IQ households in Minnesota.
2. Document the HVAC replacement journey of IQ homeowners, including how interactions with HVAC contractors influence decision-making and technology adoption.
3. Assess the electrical readiness of IQ homes for EFS by characterizing existing electrical panel capacity, evaluating available capacity for electrification measures, and identifying factors associated with panel upgrade needs. Slipstream conducted a statewide survey of 291 low-to-moderate income (up to 150% of AMI) single-family households across Minnesota.
4. Estimate the costs for electrical upgrades and how electricians approach electrical upgrades for EFS.
5. Understand the barriers and opportunities for trade contractors to adopt supportive model and where utilities could provide support.

Attend to learn about the study methodology, results, and recommendations to overcome the wide range of barriers to residential EFS, including electrical infrastructure limitations and upgrade costs, contractor knowledge, fragmented program offerings, and low homeowner awareness, through energy conservation and optimization (ECO) program design.