GHI Webinar: How to Electrify Without Panel Upsizing

Learn how to electrify your home without needing to upsize your electrical panel! We will briefly touch on the history of electrification and panel sizing. Then we’ll review the Watt Diet calculator and strategies for switching to electric appliances without the cost and hassle of a panel service upgrade.

Speakers

Sean Armstrong is the managing principal of Redwood Energy and has worked in building electrification for 28 years, the last 12 as a consultant. He’s designed more than 300 commercial buildings and 25,000 residences for low-income households to be all-electric and solar powered. Starting in 2018, Sean and his staff co-authored seven practical guides to building and transportation electrification and helped develop California’s pro-electrification, solar and battery Energy Codes. He’s received design awards from the United Nations, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the Southern California Building Industry Association and been inducted into the 2022 Clean Energy Hall of Fame by the California Energy Commission.

Tom Kabat is a mechanical engineer with more than 40 years’ experience in hands-on building science, utility program design, implementation, and utility resource planning. Tom partners with others in electrification design projects for dozens of homes, co-authoring guides to electrification, developing a Power Efficient Design practice aka “Watt Diet” technique for making electrification of buildings easier without upsizing the electric panel. He does contractor training in power efficient design for TECH Clean CA program events and for Electrify My Home TECH contractor cohort trainings. He co-developed a popular PG&E online video class on electrifying without upsizing the electric panel. He co-authored SB 68 legislation to have the CEC develop a site and content on power efficient design. He serves on the board of SunWork.org where he helps install heat pump water heaters and solar PV while training volunteers.

Lessons Learned

• -Understand how a watt diet approach to electrification reduces energy bills and promotes a healthier living environment.
• Analyze the potential safety risks associated with switching to electric appliances and ensure proper installation and maintenance.
• Introduce the Watt Diet calculator to help articulate energy usage and cost savings when transitioning to electric appliances.
• Articulate the benefits of electrification in promoting the well-being of the environment and decarbonization for the welfare of future generations.

RSVP