Heating & Cooling
Heating and cooling electrification refers to transitioning from the use of gas or other fossil fuel heating and cooling systems to more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly electric heat pumps. Heat pumps move heat rather than make heat using electricity. As the electric grid transitions away from coal and toward more clean, renewable sources of energy, electrified heating and cooling systems like heat pumps are the preferred option.
The first step is to identify what fuel sources your home’s heating and cooling systems run on. In our area, at least 62% of residences are heated by natural gas. If your home has central A/C or window units, your home is cooled by electricity. Research from NREL LEAD has shown that in our local climate, those with an electric furnace or electric baseboard heating, propane, or fuel oil are best positioned to save money by switching to a heat pump system. Those with natural gas heat will be better able to justify the electrification of these systems once additional state incentives are in place.
Replacing gas heat in your home reduces the health risks associated with indoor and outdoor air pollution, including respiratory infections, asthma, bronchitis, and lung disease.
HEAT PUMPS
How you choose to heat and cool your home makes up the largest part of your utility bill and likely your largest individual contribution to carbon emissions. As a result, heat pumps are front and center as a highly efficient and effective electric means of heating and cooling.
Heat pumps are not a new technology, but they are not widely understood by most residents who rent and own homes in the Cincinnati area. This is because heat pumps used to be only able to sufficiently heat or cool homes in less extreme climates. In places like the southeastern US, they are everywhere! With advances in technology, though, heat pumps are now able to better suit the needs of our climate.
Heat pumps are a 2-in-1 electric alternative to both heat and cool your home. Yes, you read that correctly – in the right scenario, a heat pump can effectively replace a gas-fueled furnace and an air conditioner! Although a backup heat source is still recommended in some cases, a stand-alone piece is possible and it’s getting more affordable. Three common types of heat pump systems are used in today’s market: ducted / air source, ductless / mini split, and geo-thermal. View the video and chart below to learn more so that you are prepared to request this option next time a replacement is needed!
Heat Pump Options
Dual Fuel or All Electric: A dual-fuel system uses an electric heat pump with a gas furnace to provide backup heat during extremely cold days. This is a very viable, secure option in our local climate, especially considering the high percentage of homes in our area heated by a gas furnace. In this case, the heat pump can be utilized in place of a central air conditioning system during most months of the year, while the gas furnace can provide backup heat during the coldest days. The furnace can be set to kick on once the temperature drops below a certain set point. If this is your preferred option, replace your central A/C with a heat pump next time your air conditioner needs replacement.
Watch How A Heat Pump Works
If You Have A Gas Furnace
Option 1: Go dual fuel to reduce emissions while keeping energy bills similar to now. Keep or replace your gas furnace depending on its age and condition. Add a ducted ASHP, which would replace your central AC unit (if present) and give you the option to use electric heating.
How it works: The ducted ASHP provides cooling in the summer and heating in the spring and fall. You can use the gas furnace for extra heat as needed.
Option 2: Go all-electric to maximize emission reductions. Remove the gas furnace. Install a ducted ASHP system with electric resistance secondary heating.
How it works: The ducted ASHP provides all cooling and heating all year. The system automatically turns on the electric resistance heaters for extra heat as needed.
If You Have Central Air Conditioning
Option 1: Go dual fuel to reduce emissions while keeping energy bills similar to now. Replace the central AC with a ducted ASHP. Keep your furnace or replace it at the same time depending on its age and condition. Adding an ASHP as an AC replacement can be a way to ease into incorporating electric heating.
Option 2: Go all-electric to maximize emission reductions. Remove the gas furnace. Replace the central AC with a ducted ASHP system with electric resistance secondary heating.
How it works: The ducted ASHP provides cooling and heating all year. The system automatically turns on the electric resistance heaters for extra heat as needed.
If You Have A Gas Boiler
Option 1: Go dual fuel to reduce emissions while keeping energy bills similar to now. Keep or replace your gas boiler depending on its age and condition. Then, install a mini-split ASHP system
How it works: The mini-split ASHPs provide cooling in the summer and heating in the spring and fall. You can use the gas boiler for extra heat as needed.
Option 2: Go all-electric to maximize emission reductions. Remove the gas boiler and install a mini-split ASHP system. Install electric resistance heating for secondary heating.
How it works: The mini-split ASHP system provides cooling and heating all year. You can turn on the electric resistance heaters for extra heat as needed.
Option 3: Heat Pumps for Homes Heated with Hot Water Are Here | ACEEE. Replace your gas boiler with a hydronic heat pump, leaving the radiator or baseboard system intact.
How it works: The heat in your home is still distributed by hot water running through radiators or baseboards, but it is heated through efficient electric heat pump technology.
If You Have Electric Resistance Baseboards
Your heating is all electric already, but not efficient. Install a mini-split ASHP to take over most of your heating to reduce bills and emissions. Keep the electric resistance baseboards as a secondary source of heating.
How it works: The mini-split ASHP system provides cooling and heating all year. You can use the electric resistance heaters for extra heat as needed.
Other Appliances
You can further reduce your utility costs, improve your carbon footprint, and improve your health by electrifying other appliances in your home. Many times, water heaters, stoves, clothes dryers, and lawn equipment are gas-powered and relatively easy to shift to electric.
Gas-burning stoves, water heaters, and dryers are major sources of indoor air pollution within homes, releasing pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde, and fine particulate matter. Homes with gas-burning stoves have nitrous oxide levels 50% to 400% higher than homes with electric stoves and 12.7% of current childhood asthma in the US is attributed to gas stove use. Gas-powered appliances in your home can be especially hazardous in older buildings that may not have up-to-date maintenance or assessments. The energy efficiency of modern appliances continues to increase, and electric appliances are safer alternatives. In short, “when it dies, electrify!”
RESOURCES:
Rebates
- Duke Energy Rebates (KY & IN)
Loan Products
- Legacy Home Improvement Loan Program – The Port
- $5,000-$25,000 loan, below market interest rate
- Email LegacyProgram@CincinnatiPort.org to learn more
- Revive and Thrive Loan Program – LISC
- $5,000 - $25,000 loan, 2% interest rate, average 10-year term
- Call 211 to learn more
Contractors: Designated Contractors List
- We are proud to announce the first group of Electrify Cincy Designated Contractor Network members! The seven contractors listed below are city-certified contractors. They completed a 2-day heat pump training in 2023 and are eager to make quality heat pump installations. If you’d like to explore a heat pump (and more) to electrify your building’s heating and cooling, these are ideal local businesses to turn to for quotes! Find additional details and contact information for each here.
Water Heater
Heating water for domestic use likely demands the second most amount of energy in your home each month, second only to heating and air conditioning.
Heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) are one energy efficient way to electrify your domestic hot water. HPWHs, also called hybrid water heaters, use heat pump technology to keep stored water hot by drawing heat from the surrounding air. As a bonus benefit, HPWHs help dehumidify the space around them. This can be helpful if your HPWH is installed in the basement. Speak with a certified plumber to understand whether your space and lifestyle will work well for a heat pump water heater. Standard electric water heaters are also available when it comes time for a replacement.
Stove/Oven
Gas stoves are the biggest contributor to indoor air pollution in homes. Electric stoves, especially induction stoves, can be an energy efficient and safe alternative to gas. Utilizing a copper coil underneath the cooking surface instead of gas power allows the stove to reduce cooking time, saving up to 3x the energy required for gas stoves. A great explanation of the advantages of induction stoves can be found here.
Clothes Dryer
Electric clothes dryers can be just as efficient and effective as gas-powered dryers. Without the need to install a gas line, installation can be quicker. line. They also do not need ventilation to the outdoors and are often smaller than gas dryers, saving space in your home. Heat pump clothes dryers are also an increasingly popular option and the technology has improved dramatically to ensure solid performance.
Lawn Equipment
Gas-fueled lawn and garden equipment has been the standard bearer for decades despite their contribution to air, ground, and water pollution. In recent years, electric lawn equipment has gained market share due to increasing effectiveness and cost parity. Exploring an investment in electric lawnmowers, weed whackers, leaf blowers, and woodchippers is a great smaller-scale step to your home electrification effort. Replacing water and maintenance-reliant grass lawns with native plants can also reduce your household’s reliance on gas-fueled or even electric-fueled lawn equipment.
RESOURCES:
Federal Rebates (Available Now)
- Induction Stove
- Low-income households (under 80% of Cincinnati median income): 100% of costs up to $840
- Moderate-income households (between 80%-150% of Cincinnati median income): 50% of costs up to $840
- Electric Clothes Dryer
- Low-income households (under 80% of Cincinnati median income): 100% of costs up to $840
- Moderate-income households (between 80%-150% of Cincinnati median income): 50% of costs up to $840
Electric Vehicles
While not technically part of your home, an electric vehicle (EV) can be a great step toward reducing your use of fossil fuels in everyday life. A home charger can be installed and if you have on-site solar, your car can effectively run on the sun! Overall, incorporating renewable energy, battery storage and electric vehicles into home electrification efforts is a great way to round out the electrification of your lifestyle
All-electric vehicles (EVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) all use electricity at different scales to improve vehicle efficiency while reducing carbon emissions. All-electric vehicles produce zero tailpipe emissions, and PHEVs produce no tailpipe emissions when operating in all-electric mode. HEV benefits vary by vehicle model and type of hybrid power system. EVs are the only widely available vehicle type that use rechargeable batteries to operate over increasingly longer ranges.
While not directly connected to the electrification of your home, transportation is the second highest sector in terms of carbon emissions. Vehicle charging generally happens most efficiently at home, so it will impact your home’s electricity usage.
For those without an EV charger at home, Cincinnati has several publicly accessible charging stations. The city and partners are working hard to make EV charging more accessible, especially in those communities with more multifamily buildings and fewer driveways. Learn more and find your nearest EV charging stations here.
RESOURCES:
Federal tax credit for new EVs purchased before Sept. 30, 2025
Kentucky EV Rebate Program
- 50% grant up to $25,000 per site for Level 2 EV chargers
- Learn more
30C EV Charging Tax Credit (Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit)
- Businesses (including commercial property owners of 5+ unit buildings) can claim a 30% tax credit for installing EV charging up to $100,000 per EV charger installed
- All qualifying infrastructure must be in-service by June 30, 2026
- Learn more