Ben Scott next to the outdoor unit of his ductless heat pump
In 2024, Electrify Ashland Now volunteer Ben Scott accomplished something exciting: he crossed the finish line of his home-electrification journey. By switching his car, appliances, and HVAC system from gas to electric energy sources, he now has a home that runs almost entirely on hydroelectric and solar power.
Article by Ben Scott. Ben is one of the region’s foremost experts on residential energy efficiency.
In 2024, our electrification journey finally reached its conclusion: We have electrified all that we can in our household.
Our journey began with the purchase of our home. Right away, we began extensive remodeling. During the first few years, we began by tackling envelope improvements — air sealing, insulation, windows, etc. Then, as equipment and appliances began to reach their end of life, we switched to all electric. That included replacing a gas furnace with a variable-capacity heat pump and adding a ductless heat pump (aka Mini-Split) for a separate downstairs area.
We also replaced an aging gas range with an electric induction range, a gas water heater with a heat pump water heater, and an electric dryer with a heat pump dryer, which was paired with an efficient washer.
This year, a few final changes took us over the finish line.
This past summer we let go of our old propane outdoor grill and sent it off to be recycled by Recology at the Valley View Transfer Station. After watching Electrify Now’s Electric Grills webinar, we replaced it with a small electric grill (a Weber Lumin model). After a few uses and some slight adjustments, we are happy with the results.
In November, we decided to buy our first-ever EV. We chose a preowned car and found one using the website, cargurus.com. We found a nice Chevy Bolt EUV with low mileage and a new battery (following a Chevy recall). It seemed like a fair deal to us. So far, we are incredibly happy with it. Used EVs can qualify for an Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) tax credit of $4000, (for cars under $25,000).
The Chevy replaced a 21-year-old Prius, which served us well. We donated the Prius to Jefferson Public Radio, which was auctioned off. JPR will benefit as we will, not only from a great public radio station but from a modest tax credit that we will receive.
That same month, we became subscribers of the first Ashland Solar Cooperative solar system on a city building. With virtual net metering, we will now be able to offset 85% of electric usage. Kudos go to Jim Hartman for his dedication to bringing this project to fruition! We are happy to be able to take part in a community solar program, not having the possibility of rooftop solar on our own home.
And finally, to end the year, we decided to provide a backup heat source in the event we should lose all electricity (an occasional incident here in Ashland). We bought an EPA-certified biomass (wood) insert fireplace to replace a gas insert.
The EPA certification requires high-efficiency appliances to have average particulate emissions of 1.5 grams per hour and a thermal efficiency minimum of 75%. The model we got has an 81% overall efficiency. We plan to only use it on an as-needed basis.
The product also meets the requirements for an IRA tax incentive of 30% of costs, up to $2000.
We are now a fully electrified home and happy to be so.
It feels good knowing that we will be using efficient electric systems and powering them with renewable energy. It was a wonderful way to end the year!
I hope that all Ashland homes can find ways to electrify with all the benefits electrification brings: cut costs, breathe cleaner air, lessen the use of fossil fuel, and help our climate.
I am also here as a volunteer of the Electrify Ashland Now team and happy to share my experiences with anyone interested and to offer guidance where it might be useful.
Ben Scott, Electrify Ashland Now! volunteer
Ashland, Oregon
Ben Scott has 25 years experience in construction and energy efficiency, the last 15 as a building science professional based in Ashland. He has worked for non-profits and with utilities, communities and local government, helping people utilize residential energy efficiency programs like Home Performance with Energy Star & Energy Trust of Oregon..
Ben is actively involved in local community efforts to mitigate climate change and advocates for smart, sensible ways to work together on critical environmental issues. He provides independent energy services, performance testing and field verification for Earth Advantage & EPS new homes certifications. He has been a licensed contractor and is certified by the Building Performance Institute. Ben is also an Electric Coach, certified with Rewiring America.
Start Your Electrification Journey
Ben and the Electrify Ashland now team are here to help you create a customized plan for your electrification journey. To start the process, sign up for a Free Home Assessment. The team will learn about your house and guide you through your journey.
Discover more from Ashland Climate Collaborative
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.