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Heat pump information
Everyone should be able to breathe clean air

Most folks spend most of their time inside buildings. Whether it's hot or cold outside, staying comfortable indoors is essential. Yet a lot of our appliances that keep us warm can burn dirty fuels like gas, which warms the planet, too. And, when it’s hot out, conventional air conditioners are inefficient and use a lot of energy to operate.There's a better way!

An electric heat pump is a single appliance that replaces a furnace AND an air conditioner, uses less electricity for heating and cooling — and saves you money on utility bills. Plus when there's dirty or smoky air outside along with hotter temperatures, with an electric heat pump you can keep your windows closed and still stay cool. It's great technology available now, but it needs to be attainable and affordable for everyone.Climate pollution from our buildings is growing at a faster rate than any other sector so we must move quickly to use our clean grid to electrify our buildings. Existing buildings produce the vast majority of carbon emissions, and using fossil gas appliances produce toxic indoor air pollution.

Send a message to your legislators today asking them to address this

They should fund the following programs:

Low-and moderate-income heat pump program

Many low-and moderate-income households (LMI) need support beyond appliance retrofits, including crucial weatherization and safety upgrades. A comprehensive whole-home approach, beginning with a full energy audit, has yielded opportunities for deeper energy savings in programs in other states. This approach would also ensure that LMI households can also receive subsidies for accompanying costs such as electrical panel upgrades. 

Rebate program for heat pumps in schools and small businesses 

Burning fossil fuels in commercial buildings is responsible for an estimated $110 million dollars in health impacts annually. This is particularly true in schools, where indoor air pollution disproportionately impacts children. Children have developing lungs, and breathe larger volumes of air relative to their body size. Reductions in indoor air pollution, as well as improvements in energy efficiency and lighting, bring tangible improvements to student health and performance, particularly among our youngest and most vulnerable children.

Send a message now: We all should get to live in healthy homes, and go to work and school in safe buildings.

Author Bio

Joelle Robinson
Joëlle Robinson

Field Director, Climate Solutions

Joëlle engages community members and diverse constituencies—faith, health, youth, parents, business—to make their voices heard for climate solutions. She led the team of organizers to ensure we stopped any coal export from the U.S. West Coast over the past decade. On offense, she co-led the Field team to help pass the 100% Clean Electricity (Clean Energy Transition Act in 2019) and in 2022 collaborated with the Field team to ensure that all new buildings (commercial and residential) will be built with heat pumps per the State Building Code Council. She continues to conspire for good with them on many other local and state initiatives.

Joëlle was the Regional Outreach Coordinator of National Wildlife Federation where she focused on mobilizing hunters, anglers and concerned citizens around solutions to global warming. Previous work with Climate Solutions includes the NW Climate Connections partnership, serving as the Field Assistant for the successful Clean Cars campaign, and Field Director of the Renewable Fuel Standard, which passed in April 2006.

She previously served on the boards of Earth Ministry, Solar Washington, and Sierra Club Executive Committee. She’s currently President of the board of her 3 year-old!

Joëlle is Northwest born and raised who loves to hike, dance, travel and explore the natural world.

Her favorite quote is “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” —  Mary Oliver

Give for a brighter future

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