Frequently Asked Questions

Elephant Energy is a climate-tech startup on a mission to electrify everything, starting with homes. 

We use deep knowledge of building science, proprietary technology, and operational expertise, to make it easy for homeowners to confidently upgrade heating and cooling systems and home appliances to get off gas. Our easy-to-follow, digital roadmap outlines the pathway to switch to heat pumps, induction stoves, heat pump water heaters, battery storage, and home EV chargers - all at once, or over time - to increase comfort, decrease monthly bills, improve health, and lower your carbon footprint. 

Get started with our My Electrification Roadmap and Free Estimate tools today! 

To learn more about our team and mission, click here.

To learn more about our founding story and why home electrification is a critical part of the energy transition, check out our article, “Accelerating Home Electrification”.

We are your Home Electrification and Home Comfort Experts. We use deep building science expertise, proprietary technology, and operational best practices to make it easy to confidently electrify everything in your home. 

We offer heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) solutions in the form of heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, and efficiency & weatherization upgrades. We also install MERV13 filter boxes to improve your home’s air quality and, where needed, ERVs and humidifiers to further improve your home’s comfort. We also offer induction stoves and electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.

Our upgrades are focused on increasing comfort, decreasing monthly bills, improving your health, and lowering your carbon footprint. Our friendly team will be with you every step of the way - we even streamline the rebates and financing for you.  

Read more about Our Solutions.

Yes! In most cases, the long-term cost savings and efficiency resulting from a heat pump installation will offset the initial cost. Electric systems, such as heat pumps and heat pump water heaters, are 3X more efficient than gas-powered systems, and therefore save you money on your utility bills. On average, homeowners save $1k - 2.6k each year on energy bills by upgrading to electric technologies.²

Additionally, applying Inflation Reduction Act incentives toward the products we offer can significantly reduce upfront costs via tax credits and immediate rebates. Our financing partners enable you to get these upgrades with $0 down.

We are currently serving the Boulder-Denver and Boston metro areas with additional U.S. markets opening in 2023.  We serve Boulder, Louisville, Lafayette, Superior, Arvada, Westminster, Golden, Longmont, Ft. Collins, Loveland, Erie, Denver, Aurora, Littleton, and more are opening up regularly.  If you don’t see your community on this list, get in touch and we’ll see if we can service your territory!

We make home electrification easy. Up until now, electrification has been challenging for homeowners due to the lack of qualified experts in the space. We specialize in electrification, and use deep building science expertise, proprietary technology, and operational best practices to make it easy to confidently electrify everything in your home. Once you dive in and decide to electrify, we take care of the project - tip to tail. 

A key part of a successful electrification project is ensuring that your system design meets your home’s unique needs. Our tech-enabled platform allows us to select and size your equipment for your specific home, thereby ensuring the most comfortable and cost-efficient outcome. 

Most electrification projects also require coordinating with multiple trades to complete a single install - this is tricky! We fully assume the coordination of your project, and stand behind the fact that we team up only with the best contractor partners; vetting them and the finished work product so that you don’t have to. 

Lastly, our deep knowledge of electrification and increased buying power means that you get the highest value for your money and streamlined access to all possible incentives and rebates. Our financing partners provide all this with $0 money down options at low affordable rates. 

So, our friendly team will be with you every step of the way to make electrification easy. Still not convinced? Check out our Google reviews.

No matter what phase of the home electrification journey you’re in, we’re here to help! Here’s how it works: 

1. Get in Touch - Our Free Estimate Tool is the best way to get started. This form will help you get a sense of the price range for your project, as well as give us a window into your electrification goals and home’s unique needs. Want to chat first? Book a time here.
2. Virtual Home Comfort Consultation - After you receive your Free Estimate, you’ll be invited to schedule a short virtual introductory conversation with one of our Home Comfort Advisors. We’ll discuss your electrification goals and unique needs in more depth and share our thoughts on possible solutions for your home.
3. Home Comfort Consultation - Once we’re both aligned to a potential path forward, we will send one of our in-house experts to your home to do a full analysis of your house to verify key project specifications and make sure that solution is viable. Soon after this step is complete, we will provide a comprehensive plan and detailed budget for your project. If everything looks perfect, we will ask you for written confirmation via DocuSign that you want to move forward with the project. 
4. Project Kickoff - We will then introduce you to the Project Manager who will manage your project through its completion. You get to sit back and relax, as we take care of everything–ordering your equipment, selecting the best contractors for your projects, and overseeing the installation process.
5. Equipment Education, Rebates, & Financing - After your project is installed, we will help you learn how your new equipment works and make sure it is running properly. We simplify the process of accessing low-cost financing. And we also manage all of the rebate paperwork so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy your upgraded home.

The duration of a home electrification installation depends on the size of the installation. Heat Pump installations generally take 2 days, while Heat Pump Water Heaters, EV Chargers, and Induction Stoves can be completed in a single day.

While the actual installation is quick, we recommend scheduling your project ASAP, as equipment ordering and project scheduling typically takes 1 month, or more during the busy season.

We partner with a network of vetted contractors to execute your project. In combination with our team of engineers, building scientists, and customer happiness experts, we manage the entire project from start to finish from initial assessment through post-install support.

We only work with contractors who deliver the highest quality standards in the industry. We have built a strong network of contractors who we work seamlessly with to get your project done as fast as possible. Once we know your unique project needs, we select the contractor who we believe is the best fit for you.

The cost of our projects can vary depending on the size of the unit, the type of equipment included in the project, and the

location of the home. After rebates and incentives, a heat pump generally costs $10,000- $20,000 and a heat pump water heater is about $3,000 to $5,000, reducing the price below comparable gas replacements. And, the long-term cost savings gained from full home electrification also help to offset the initial cost - most homeowners see energy bill reductions of about $1-$2.5k per year, due to increased efficiency.²

To learn more about the rebates and incentives available for electrification, click here.

We will not charge for your project until after the installation is complete. We also have low-cost financing partners. Colorado's RENU program offers loans starting at 3.5%, with $0 down. For those in Massachusetts, the HEAT loan offers fantastic zero interest financing opportunities

The Colorado Residential Energy Upgrade (RENU) Loan is a statewide residential loan program sponsored by the Colorado Clean Energy Fund in partnership with Colorado-based credit unions. It makes home energy upgrades easy and affordable by offering low-cost, long-term financing for energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements. 

To learn more about RENU Financing, visit their website here.

The Massachusetts Heat Loan program is a state initiative that helps homeowners in Massachusetts finance energy-efficient home improvements like insulation and heat pumps. The program provides affordable financing of up to $50,000 for heat pumps and interest rates as low as 0%. The program is administered by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) and is funded by the state's energy efficiency surcharge.

Home electrification refers to the process of replacing traditional fossil fuel-based systems, such as gas-powered furnaces or stoves, with electric alternatives. This can include replacing gas appliances with electric ones, installing electric heating and cooling systems, or using renewable energy sources such as solar panels to power the home. The goal of home electrification is to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which are major contributors to climate change. It can also provide cost savings and increased efficiency for homeowners, as many electric systems are more efficient and require less maintenance than their fossil fuel counterparts.

Electrifying your home provides myriad benefits, such as: 

Increase Comfort: Electrification and weatherization upgrades ensure more consistent temperature control and comfort in every room.

Save Money: On average, homeowners save about $1,000 -2,600 each year on energy bills with by moving to electric technologies.²

Cleaner Planet: An electric home emits substantially less carbon than a mixed-fuel home up to 93% less over 15 years, depending on where you live.¹

Add Home Value: Electrifying can increase your home’s value by an average of 4-7% for heat pump HVAC systems and 4% for rooftop solar systems.^3,4

Increase Safety: Removing fossil fuels from your home improves air quality and reduces the likelihood of fires and gas leaks - making your home safer for you and your family.

Improve Health: A 2013 meta-analysis of over 40 studies found that children living in homes with gas stoves had a 42 percent higher risk of experiencing asthmatic symptoms.⁵

Electric homes are the future, and we’re here to help you get started. To learn more, check out our article, “Top 5 Reasons to Go Electric”.

The best time to electrify your home depends on your individual circumstances and goals. If you are building a new home or undergoing major renovations, then incorporating electric systems from the beginning can be a good option, as it can save you the cost and hassle of replacing gas-powered systems later on. If you are planning to replace existing gas appliances, then considering electric alternatives at the time of replacement can be a good way to transition to an electrified home.

In general, it’s most likely a good idea to electrify your home if you are looking to reduce your carbon footprint and reliance on fossil fuels, save money on energy costs, and improve the resale value of your home. However, it's important to consider the costs and feasibility of electrification in your specific situation, and to do thorough research before making any decisions. Our Electrification Roadmap Tool is a good place to start!

Every home has a unique path to full electrification. We start by helping you identify which electrification upgrades you should make, when, based on your home’s specifications and your personal goals. From there, we provide a personalized electrification roadmap with a comprehensive timeline to upgrade your home. For example, we may recommend starting with a heat pump today and an electric vehicle charger next year. To learn more, check out our article, “Electrify Your Home in 5 Simple Steps”.

Home comfort is exactly what you think - how cozy your home feels! This is inclusive of various factors such as temperature, even heating and cooling, humidity, noise, and air quality. Home comfort is an important consideration when building or renovating a home, as it significantly impacts daily life - especially in the age of remote work. At Elephant Energy, we take home comfort very seriously - each of our system designs takes your home’s unique comfort needs into account.

Building science is the field of study that uses technology, science, construction, and design to make buildings more comfortable and durable. Elephant Energy’s team uses building science for every unique home to properly size equipment, which has a massive impact on price and comfort. We use best-in-class building science to understand the true heating and cooling loads of a property to ensure we can BOTH keep homes cool in the summer and cozy in the winter AND minimize your total cost of ownership.

A heat pump is a type of HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system that uses a small amount of energy to move heat from one location to another. In the summer, heat pumps cool your home by extracting cool air from outside and drawing it inside. In the winter, they do the opposite. Since heat pumps provide heating AND cooling, they are a versatile and efficient option that can replace your furnace and air conditioner. 

Pretty cool, but how do they work? Heat pumps use refrigerant to absorb heat/cold from the air or ground outside and transfer it inside, where it is released to cool/warm the building. Heat pumps are about three times more energy-efficient than traditional HVAC systems because they use electricity to transfer existing heat from the outside air, rather than burning fossil fuels to generate it.

Yes! We have installed many heat pumps in the Colorado Front Range and New England, and they function extremely well in these bitter winter climates. They’ve also been proven effective in other very cold climate locations (for example, Alaska)⁶. However, there are many people who still think that heat pumps don’t work in this climate because up until a few years ago, heat pump technology was not robust enough for harsh winter weather conditions. Technology improvements have now rendered this belief a myth.

At Elephant Energy, we are extremely thoughtful when we approach heat pump system design and sizing for cold climates, so our homeowners can feel confident that their heat pumps will keep them cozy on the coldest of days. 

For additional context, heat pumps work by transferring heat from one place to another, rather than generating heat like a furnace does. In the winter, this means transferring heat from the outside air into your house to warm it. Even when it feels cold to us, there is still enough heat in the air (according to the Kelvin temperature scale!) to warm your home. Science is awesome :) 

For very large or leaky homes, we may advise that it’s in your home’s best interests to install a supplemental electric heat kit. This is a backup heating system that will always be available to provide additional heat during the coldest weather. In the rare case that the heat pump system is unable to provide sufficient heat on its own during extreme cold, the heat kit is activated and will be able to provide your home with heat at any temperature. 

A heat pump water heater is a type of water heater that uses a heat pump to heat water, rather than using electricity or gas. Heat pump water heaters work by using a refrigerant to absorb heat from the air or ground outside and transfer it to the water inside the tank. This allows the heat pump to provide hot water more efficiently than traditional water heaters, as it uses a small amount of electricity to move heat rather than generating it directly. Heat pump water heaters are often more energy-efficient than traditional water heaters and can save homeowners money on their energy bills. They are also considered to be more environmentally friendly, as they emit fewer greenhouse gasses than gas-powered water heaters. To learn more, check out our guide.

An induction stove is a type of electric cooking appliance that uses electromagnetic induction to generate heat. Induction stoves work by using an electromagnetic field to transfer heat directly to the cooking vessel, such as a pan or pot, rather than heating the stovetop itself. This makes them more efficient and responsive than traditional gas or electric stoves, as the heat is generated directly in the cookware and can be easily adjusted. Induction stoves are also safer than gas stoves, as there is no open flame or risk of gas leaks. They are often preferred by professional chefs and home cooks who want precise temperature control and quick heat-up times. To learn more, check out our Ultimate Guide on induction stoves.

Home electrification can potentially have a positive impact on a home's value, as it can make the home more efficient, sustainable, and desirable to potential buyers. Electric systems, such as heat pumps and electric appliances, are often more efficient and require less maintenance than their gas counterparts. Additionally, the trend towards electrification and renewable energy is growing, and homes with electric systems may be seen as more modern and forward-thinking. One study showed that residences with an air source heat pump enjoy between a 4-7% (or $10,000-$17,000) price premium on average.³

While our utilities pride themselves on providing power during all types of weather, it’s a fact of life that sometimes the power does go out. For better or worse, a heat pump is just like a gas-powered furnace or boiler. All require electricity to operate (this surprises many homeowners, but your furnace and boiler also require electricity to provide heat!). If you live in an area that is prone to frequent power outages, going “off the grid” with solar and battery storage might be a compelling option for you. And soon, you may also be able to power your home via your EV!

We are here to ensure that you can electrify at the lowest cost! We wrangle all of the rebates you are eligible for (from the state, your town, and your utility provider) so you don’t have to worry about it.

The Inflation Reduction Act, which was passed in August 2022, offers many incentives for electric upgrades. If your household income is less than 80% of your area’s median income, you will be eligible to receive 100% of available rebates up to a cap of $8,000. If your household income is 81-150% of your area’s median income, you will be eligible to receive 50% of the available rebates. If your household income exceeds 150% of your area’s median income, you can still receive a 30% tax credit of up to $2,000 on new heat pumps. 

All of our customers have qualified for financial incentives. For Colorado based homeowners, Xcel Energy offers a rebate of up to $2,000 for heat pumps, and many of our customers have qualified for additional city-level rebates, too. For Massachusetts based customers, Mass Save offers rebates of up to $10,000 for heat pump installations, and will also cover 75-100% of the cost of all approved weatherization work.

We are in the process of designing a tool to help you estimate upfront discounts and tax credits for heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, electric stoves, electric wiring, weatherization, electric vehicle chargers, rooftop solar, and more. In the meantime, check out this useful IRA calculator tool from Rewiring America (the leading leading electrification nonprofit in the US).

The High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Act (HEEHRA) is the official name of the IRA's heat pump incentive program. This program will provide low- and moderate-income households point-of-sale (upfront) rebates to electrify their homes. 

When it is launched next year (the exact timing is still TBD) it may cover up to 100% of electrification costs for low-income households and 50% for moderate-income households. Qualified projects will include heat pump HVAC systems, heat pump water heaters, electric stoves and cooktops, heat pump clothes dryers, new circuit panels, insulation, air sealing, ventilation, and wiring.

All homeowners are currently eligible for 2023 tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act. The High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Act (HEEHRA) incentives for low and moderate-income households are not yet available, as they are still in the process of being rolled out at the state level. You can stay tuned for updates by signing up for our newsletter.