HOME ELECTRIFICATION CHAT Q&A, NOV 21, 2024 ALSO SEE Q&A RECORDING LEARN HOW TO BECOME A NJ ELECTRIFICATION COACH Email Steve Miller at stevemiller@comcast.net Email Chris Proulx at chrisproulx98@yahoo.com Email Pat Miller: patmiller@comcast.net SPAN ELECTRIC PANELS FOR BATTERY & SOLAR MANAGEMENT Kathy: Thank you so much for doing this. Do any of the coaches have experience with the SPAN electric panels for battery management? I’m having full solar and whole house battery installed and am trying to decide whether to spend the additional money. Thank you. ANSWERS: Paul: Span is a novel circuit breaker panel that monitors and controls all usage by circuit. One advantage is that in a blackout it can route power to essential circuits. ALSO, watch Q&A recording where this was discussed Jesse: Span retails for roughly $7000 plus additional wiring costs, thought it is a fantastic product it may not be the lowest hanging fruit to start with. An energy audit would help to show you what the lowest hanging fruit is. HEAT PUMP DRYER: Sue:vFirst time I've seen a heat pump dryer. How does that work compared to an electric dryer? How much would it cost and are there special requirements? Maryrose: We got a Miele HP dryer last year on a great sale and it came to $700 after all the sales and utility rebates. We love it. Betsy: I wrote an article about HP dryers in my free Substack site, ClimateFriendlyLifestyle.substack.com Steve: we have a 120 volt GE combo clothes washer and heat pump dryer. Plugs into nearest outlet. It is fantastic and requires NO vent! IDENTIFY CONTRACTORS: Andrew Questions: 1)is the Rewiring America list of contractors pretty good, or is it likely to be missing a lot of players in NJ? Betsy: They really don't list many individual contractors yet. There's a real gap here. We are asking the state of NJ to list experienced contractors, but we will also try to compile a list. Steve: Each NJ utility maintains a LARGE list of various types of contractors. Also See "How to Identify Best Contractors & Best Heat Pumps" https://climate.smiller.org/50x30/building-electrification/vendor-recommendations.html Jesse: Look up BPI Goldstar Contractors who specialize in Weatherization like Ciel Power HOW ARE EXPECTED FEDERAL SUBSIDY ROLLBACKS GOING TO IMPACT NJ? Andrew 2) Is the expected rolling back of some federal subsidies likely to flow through and negatively impacts the future availability of NJ state subsidies? Betsy: Your guess is as good as ours WHICH CLEAN ENERGY PROJECTS MAKE THE MOST FINANCIAL SENSE? Andrew 3) Do your coaches have a sense of which types of clean energy projects make the most financial sense in NJ? I.e. solar versus heat pump versus insulation? Chris: In general, it is good to add your electrification items: HVAC, Induction cooktop, EV etc before adding Solar so it can be sized properly. However it is possible to add more solar later Betsy: Rewiring America's planner is a good source to help you evaluate. Note that solar is creating energy that you use for whatever purpose, heat pumps heat and cool your home, and insulation reduces the need for heating and cooling. Chris: Always ask contractor to install a Cold Weather Heat pump or minispit. No gas back up is needed SOLAR SYSTEMS: WHEN TO INSTALL; WHAT SIZE IS ALLOWED Andrew: I would have thought the best strategy for solar is to add as much as you rooftop allows, rather than sizing according to you needs. Unless there is a risk that net metering is eliminated during the life of the panels? Chris: In NJ they don't allow you to add as much as you can but only as much as you use Betsy : I put in solar panels. The utility will not approve connecting solar panels in excess of your predicted/documented need. Michael:Solar goes hand in hand with building electrification - solar helps make any building electrification project more cost effective. If you install solar and once the solar is paid off your energy is essentially "free" so your payback on your building electrification equipment is shorter. Plus you are using energy to heat and cool your house and cook your food and changer your EV with almost zero carbon footprint. HOW TO SHARE (VIA SWITCHING) AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT: Jean: Is it possible to share EV charger with 240 V electric dryer circuit? Betsy: Yes-SAME as sharing EV Charger with 240 volt electric range. Use the "Simple Switch" as shown by Steve Miller slide- see slides Paul: It is technically possible to share a circuit but careful thought should go into that decision to avoid overloading or nuisance tripping. You may want to install a transfer switch (such as "Simple Switch" or "NeoCharge") to route power to one or the other. Jean: Thanks, yes, I’d want to switch between dryer and EV charging. John: Neocharge offers plugin circuit splitters that doesn't need an electrician if your 2 devices are relatively close together Johnr: They also sell extension cords if you're further away Steve: USE A CIRCUIT SWITCH: "Simple Switch" is directly wired (see my slide. John Wheller suggests products (typically equipped with two 240 outlets and one 240 volt pigtail plug- an example is "NeoCharge") that can switch automatically between two loads. See "Electrification of Homes Without An Electrical Service Upgrade" from Redwood Energy https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/62b110a14473cb7777a50d28/65b437f4369abdff967f3da0_20231026-Electrification-without-a-service-upgrade-report-1.pdf EV CHARGING WITH 240 VOLT OUTLETS: MUST INSTALL A HEAVY DUTY OUTLET!! Paul EV owners, be aware that NEMA 14-50 outlets commonly sold in hardware stores are usually not rated for continuous duty - rather they support intermittent loads like electric dryers. Using a light-duty NEMA 14-50 outlet is extremely dangerous as the outlet itself can overheat and melt. When planning an EV charger, it is best to use a hard-wired charger (Tesla "Wall Connector" and others); if you must use a NEMA 14-50 make sure to get the Hubbell/Bryant units with heavier duty components. (These now bear an EV logo marking. SEE IMAGE: https://store.hubbell.com/product/170482 IS IT POSSIBLE TO UPGRADE TO HEAT PUMP FROM STEAM RADIATOR HEAT? Andrew : For an older house with steam radiator heat, is a conversion to a heat pump an option? Chris : Yes. I have an old house that had a boiler. For me I put in minisplits so no ductwork was needed. Another contact was able to install a heat pump with some added ductwork. Chris : There are also Air to water heat pumps that will heat water but they will not make steam to my knowledge. The steam radiators can be converted to hot water but usually more radiators are needed to get enough heat into the room Betsy: Since the circulating water temp is lower, you usually would need European style radiators with more surface area for better heat transfer. Jesse: You can often keep your hydronic heating systems as 'Backup' but ideally getting rid of propane, oil, gas is the goal of building electrification. WHY IS THERE NEED FOR LOW POWER 120 VOLT APPLIANCES? Jim: Why is everyone so concerned about 120 Volt appliances? Jim: The only reason manufacturers are building 120 Volt equipment is to accommodate areas that don't have 220 volt areas. Steve: lower power appliances (example: 120 volt shared circuit combo washer/heat pump dryer) are also being designed to live within constrants of existing small electrical panels (example- our Nov 21 case study), avoid cost of panel upgrades and avoid high cost of running a 240 volt circuit "HOME PERFORMANCE WITH ENERGY STAR" (replaced by "HOMES" in 2025?) Jesse: CCASHP Cold Climate Air Source Heat Pump is designed in most cases to replace most if not all of your heating needs if the Airsealing and Insulation is done to a Home Performance with Energy Star level and tested in and out with a blower door. Look up BPI Goldstar Contractors who specialize in Weatherization like Ciel Power as Steve and other coaches have mentioned. A leaky home is like leaving the fridge door open, by sealing it up you close up many of the losses and can then size your heat pumps, solar, etc as you tighten things down. RECOMMENDED CONTRACTORS FOR ENERGY AUDIT AND WEATHERIZATION: Paul: FWIW I hired Ciel Power for energy audit and weatherization for a home in Closter NJ (Bergen County). This was under the PSE&G HPWES program. I recommend them. Betsy: I did too, and their reports are GREAT. I ended up not hiring them because we couldn't agree on the actions I should take, but their reports are extremely helpful. Steve: I used Ciel Power for energy audit and weatherization on my daughter's home, near Princeton. Audit report is extensive; Weatherization prices a little high; you can bargain (i.e. attic insulatin thickness), but final calculated weatherization savings must meet rebate requirements Jesse: Ciel Power website says they serve everywhere in NJ except part of Cape May county and parts of Jersey City. I agree with a lot of those points you make Jim Price. Much is dictated by the Utility/BPU to meet program standards to pass inspection and be approved for the rebates/incentives. thanks for your input everyone. Chris: Eastern Insulation.com IS THERE A SOLAR SIZE LIMIT? Kathy With Solar I was frustrated with a lot of the bigger companies, found a small local company that I am really happy with John: When installing solar, always install squirrel guards, if any in your area Jean: Maybe somewhere we can find the ridiculous reason we’re only allowed to add solar to cover our existing electricity use? Betsy: It's because of net metering. You sell your power back to the utility at retail price, offsetting what you buy from them. So the utilities are actually losing money on you because the electricity is only part of their cost. Michael: The utilities own the wires you are connected - you are using their system. Under the net metering tariff you get full retail for the electricity that goes back to the grid at around 18 cents. While the wholesale price for electricity is 2 cents - so you get a significant benefit. At the wholesale cost for electricity it is not cost effective to put more solar on your roof than you use. Basically the payback on the additional solar would be about 20 years RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SOLAR CONTRACTORS Kathy used (and recommends) Reliable Solar and Roofing out of Augusta, NJ (Chris Deming) John recommends Sea Bright solar: I have 2 systems ¹0kw installed 16 years ago, added 5kw about 2 yrs. Covers all usage for geothermal and everything else01:43:34 REFERENCES Betsy: & Ila: REDWOODENERGY.NET HAS EXCELLENT set of guides: retrofit guide ; Rewiring America Personal Electrification Planner https://homes.rewiringamerica.org/personal-electrification-planner; A Pocket Guide to All-Electric Retrofits of Single-Family Homes (being updated) https://www.redwoodenergy.net/research/a-pocket-guide-to-all-electric-retrofits-of-single-family-homes ; Electrification of Homes without an Electrical Service Upgrade https://www.redwoodenergy.net/research/electrification-of-homes-without-an-electrical-service-upgrade; Calculate capacity of YOUR electric panel: https://www.redwoodenergy.net/watt-diet-calculator EXCELLENT ELECTRIFICATION PLANNING TOOLS from Rewiring America https://www.rewiringamerica.org/ ; Personal Electrification Planner https://homes.rewiringamerica.org/personal-electrification-planner JCP&L LMI INCOME Weatherization Programs https://residential.energysavenj.com/jersey-central/MIWX/ COMPENDIUM OF 700 REFERENCES https://climate.smiller.org/REF/ Index to recording and slides for all Building Electrification webinars. (see bottom entry- 2024-11-21 webinar) https://climate.smiller.org/50x30/building-electrification/All-heat-pump-webinars.html NJ ECN Going Electric Intake Form https://tinyurl.com/yc2ew6rc How to Identify Best Contractors & Best Heat Pumps https://climate.smiller.org/50x30/building-electrification/vendor-recommendations.html NEEP: https://ashp.neep.org/#!/product_list (TECH SPECS and tools to size heat pumps to specific houses. ALL HEAT PUMPS - esp Cold CLimate Heat Pumps Climate Change and What You Can Do https://smiller.org/REF1.docx Apply for Rewiring America’s 2025 Cohort https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf7B2AmlW6YXo7-GJWZ2Z-YUyGxamVml4Yq4avysZFy1PKiDQ/viewform FUTURE COACHES: Jonathan :I’m just starting my electrification journey and I enrolled in the 2025 cohort. Feel free to connect on LinkedIn to keep the conversation going. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-doro/ Jessie : I'd like to Coach but unfortunately the cohort is full until the future. REQUESTS EMAIL: please email the date/info of the event to me at thanks John Wheeler: I took the course but still need to finish the capstone, south jersey area