CORE’s Picks for this Season’s Green Electronics-Fall 2023

In a world where sustainable choices matter more than ever, embracing electric appliances and cutting-edge technologies is a powerful step towards reducing your carbon footprint. At CORE’s Green Electronics Showcase (August 23, 2023), a dynamic array of groundbreaking green technologies took center stage. If you missed the event or simply want a recap, you're in luck. Dive into our comprehensive overview of this season's finest green electronics.

Our top picks for:

-Largest greenhouse gas emissions reduction: Heat Pump
-Safety in the home: Induction stovetop
-Greening the Grid: Smart panel

Legend:

$-$$$$ = Money saving potential through grants and rebates ($ = $0-$5,000 for the first $5,000, and $=$5,000 for every additional $5,000)
⚡⚡⚡ = Energy saving potential (⚡ = 10% energy savings)

1. Heat Pumps: $ $ $ $ ⚡⚡⚡

Heat pumps offer both heating and cooling solutions for residential and commercial spaces, offering year-round comfort. Unlike traditional propane, gas, and electric heating and cooling systems, heat pumps work by transferring heat from one area to another and offer a clean, energy-efficient way to regulate indoor temperatures while drastically reducing your carbon footprint.

Here are the main types of heat pumps used in buildings:

-Air to Air: Ideal for versatile heating and cooling in different spaces.
-Ducted and Ductless (Mini-Split): Perfect for customizable climate control without ductwork.
-Air to Water: Efficiently heats water for radiant heating systems and domestic hot water.
-Geothermal: Taps into the earth's consistent temperature to offer sustainable heating and cooling.

Energy & Cost Savings

Studies conducted by the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships indicate that heat pumps can save up to 3,000 kWh (approximately $459) when replacing electric resistance heating and up to 6,200 kWh (around $948) when replacing oil systems.

While installation costs for heat pumps range from $25,000 to $35,000, the investment can be offset by a variety of rebates and incentives:

-CORE offers rebates of up to $15,000 for residential projects and up to $30,000 for commercial projects.
-Holy Cross Energy provides a 25% rebate of the total project cost (up to $5,000 annually) and $7,500 for new construction projects.
-The State of Colorado offers a 10% tax credit and sales tax exemption on heat pumps and heat pump hot water heaters.
-A 30% tax credit up to $2,000 is available through the federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) program.

*Total Cost Savings: $24,500+

**Where to Buy
Carrier West, CD Jones, R+H Mechanical, and Skyline Mechanical can help you purchase and install your very own heat pump.

2. Insulated Blinds $ ⚡⚡

The U.S. Department of Energy states that up to 30% of a home’s heat is lost through windows. Installing insulated blinds can greatly increase your home’s efficiency by keeping heat in during the cold months and preventing light and heat from entering the home during warm months. Therefore, using blinds strategically based on the time of day is important for maximizing energy savings. Blinds also make it so the areas around windows are less drafty, decreasing the chance that fugitive air is leaving and/or entering the home.

Choose from a variety of window attachments, preferably ones that have been certified by the Attachments Energy Rating Council which indicates that the blinds have undergone a rigorous certification program and are proven to increase energy efficiency.

Some options include:

-Insulated cellular shades or “honeycomb” shades.
-Solar shades.

Energy & Cost Savings

Energy savings rely on the user to maximize efficiency and that the blinds are installed correctly. Properly installed blinds can prevent 40% heat loss which creates a 10% energy savings. When it’s hot, window shades can reduce solar gain by 20%.

The average cost of cellular and solar shades is between $25-250 per window. This does not include the cost of installation, which can range between $340-2,400. Depending on the project and the energy savings, CORE will rebate certain insulated cellular blinds projects.

*Total Cost Savings: Depends

**Where to Buy

Our friends at Aros and Budget Blinds can help you select, purchase, and install blinds.

3. Induction Stovetops $$ ⚡⚡

Induction cooktops offer a safe and energy-efficient alternative to traditional gas stoves that rely on open flames and fill your home with invisible and harmful gasses like nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter. Conversely, induction cooktops use safe electromagnetic fields to generate heat directly in your pots and pans. During the process, the cooktop remains cool and safe to the touch, minimizing the risk of burns.

Energy & Cost Savings

In addition to being a better alternative for the well-being of you and your family, induction cooktops save energy and provide more heat, helping boil water faster, for example. Switching from gas to induction stovetops is three times more efficient, and induction stovetops are 10% more efficient than conventional smooth-top electric ranges.

A four-burner cooktop costs around $1,000. However, if you want to test it out or don’t have the budget, you can buy a single-burner induction cooktop for as low as $50. You can also offset the cost of an induction stove with grants and rebates:

-CORE offers up to $12,500 in grants and rebates if you switch from gas to induction.
-You can get up to an $840 rebate through the IRA.

*Total Cost Savings: $13,340+

**Where to buy

Our friends at Specialty Appliance can help you find an induction that works for you.

4. Smart panels $

Smart panels serve as advanced replacements for conventional electromechanical panels, commonly known as breaker boxes. A surge in the use of electric appliances and vehicles poses a challenge to the grid, particularly during peak loads when all these devices are using electricity at the same time. Smart panels support the use of high electrical use by alleviating pressure on the grid by dynamically controlling the operation of electric equipment and appliances. This prevents electronics from drawing power at the same time and overloading the system. Smart panels can even pause power to things like electric car chargers which don't require a constant energy supply to function optimally.

Energy & Cost Savings

If your grid demand doesn’t exceed more than 80 amps, you don’t really have a need for a smart panel. However, smart panels can void the need to update your panel which is one of the major issues faced by the movement towards electrification, can cost up to $5,000, and can take a long time to install depending on contractor availability. Smart panels can save energy by making it possible for homeowners to switch to electric appliances without the cost barrier of electrical upgrades.

Smart panels cost around $4,500, about $2,000-3,500 more than standard electromechanical panels. There are not yet incentives for installing smart panels, but this innovative technology can help you find cost savings in your home's energy consumption.

*Total Cost Savings: Depends

**Where to Buy

Our friends at Span Smart Panel and Bright Vault Smart Panel can help get you set up with smart panels.

5. Electric Lawn Care $ ⚡

Electric lawnmowers are quieter to operate, lighter, and can require less maintenance than their gas counterparts. Gas mowers and garden equipment also emit volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxides, and particulate matter. Moreso, operating a typical four-stroke lawn mower for an average of 25 hours per year is equal to driving a car 2,330 miles.

Energy & Cost Savings

A four-stroke gas mower burns between one and two gallons of gas per hour depending on the horsepower, which is equivalent to 33.7-67.4 kWh of electricity. A similarly sized electric mower uses 0.6-1.7 kWh of electricity. Therefore, switching to an electric mower on a 100% renewable grid would be equivalent to not driving your car for 63 days.

Electric mowers usually run between $80-800 and can cost $250 more than similar gas models. You can save an average of $20 per year on maintenance and gas, though, and get the following incentives when you make the switch:

-The State of Colorado rebates 30% of the cost of buying an electric mower, leaf blowers, trimmers, and snow blowers. Therefore, if you bought an electric mower for $800, you could save $240.
-Holy Cross Energy provides a 25% rebate on the cost of various electric lawn equipment (up to $150 per item).

*Total Cost Savings: $390+

**Where to Buy

Our friends at Mean Green Mowers, Kress, and STIHL can help you find the right fit.

6. Electric Bike $ ⚡⚡

Electric bikes (e-bikes) have become the future of commuting and playing outside. With an added electric boost, riding an e-bike can make a long bike ride quicker and a commute in your vehicle nonexistent.

Energy & Cost Savings

E-bikes are more than ten times more efficient than electric vehicles (EVs), using on average 0.025 kWh per mile traveled compared to an EV that uses 0.315 kWh per mile traveled.

The average cost of an e-bike is $2,000, but prices do vary widely, so grab some of these savings:

-Kickstart for the Environment, the federal rebate program offered through the 2023 E-Bike Act, offers a 30% tax credit for e-bikes that have a price tag of less than $8,000, have an operable pedal and a seat, and are Class 1, 2, or 3.
-The State of Colorado offers up to $1,750 in rebates.
-Holy Cross Energy offers $50 rebates per e-bike.

*Total Cost Savings: $4,200

**Where to Buy

Want to test drive an e-bike? Visit a WE-Cycle station and try out one of their blue e-bikes or visit a Basalt Bike and Ski to try and/or buy.

Conclusion

With the electrical grid transitioning towards greater renewables, the environmental impact of our daily lives is becoming a central focus. Holy Cross Energy is on track to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2030, and the City of Aspen Electric is already there, making electric options even more enticing. What steps will you take in the journey towards electrification? Need help deciding? Give us a call - we’d be happy to help.

The Fine Print

*Some utility providers, including Aspen Electric, Blackhills Energy, and Holy Cross Energy, offer additional rebates for electrification projects - helping you save even more on your energy-savings project.

**CORE does not and has not received royalties or incentives for listing businesses as potential product and service providers. We are unaffiliated with these businesses, although we do work with them often and think they’re pretty cool. With that, we still recommend that you do your own research to make sure that these professionals meet your standards.