King County helping families switch to clean energy, cut utility costs
Summary: King County is installing heat pumps in over 100 low- and moderate-income homes in Skyway and White Center at up to 100% cost coverage through its new Energize program.
Today King County Executive Dow Constantine announced the successful launch of the Energize program, giving more than 100 families access to efficient electric heat pumps for heating and cooling. The program covers 100% of costs for low-income households and 80% of costs for moderate-income households in Skyway and White Center.
King County also received $2.6 million in new funding from the Washington State Department of Commerce, allowing for expansion of the Energize program to serve in-home day cares and more households. This funding is part of the state’s Climate Commitment Act.
“As our region experiences more frequent and severe heat waves, we’re helping families transition to clean energy and lower energy costs so they can stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter,” said Executive Dow Constantine. “King County’s Energize program makes it easier for folks, regardless of income, to replace polluting systems with efficient electric heat pumps for a greener, healthier home.”
Heat pumps are the most efficient, climate-friendly way to heat and cool a home with clean energy rather than fossil fuels. A heat pump is up to four times as efficient as a standard air conditioner or furnace, using less energy to keep a home comfortable.
“King County Local Services teams are in these communities and see first-hand how extreme heat and cold impact everyday lives. It is meaningful to support our residents with cost-effective and energy-efficient systems that improve living conditions while also helping to reduce the carbon footprint of the built environment in King County,” said Danielle DeClerq, King County Local Services acting director.
King County began enrolling residents last fall through online and in-person workshops. The program contractor, Resicon, is now installing heat pumps in homes in the original pilot while the county works to expand the program with Climate Commitment Act funds.
The program has helped families transition from oil and gas furnaces and wood heat. It’s also open to renters when landlords commit to not raising rent for three years beyond the projected impacts of inflation.
Making buildings greener & healthier
This is the latest in a series of actions Executive Constantine is taking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in buildings — the source of half of King County’s emissions.
- King County partnered with regional governments and the Building Decarbonization Coalition to launch the Switch Is On, a new tool that helps households make clean energy upgrades, including information about what incentives households could qualify for from utilities and local, state and federal governments.
- King County made lower-interest loans available for energy upgrades at commercial and multi-family buildings through the CPACER program. This has enabled more than $100 million of financing for energy upgrades and resilience improvements in buildings since 2022.
- King County received $475,000 in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy as part of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program to develop a countywide building decarbonization strategy.
Growing opportunities in green jobs
Energize connected youth from local pre-apprenticeship programs with the contractors completing heat pump installations for paid work-based learning — helping introduce young people interested in the trades and climate solutions to the HVAC field.
This is part of King County’s Green Jobs Strategy to connect frontline communities impacted by climate change with living-wage employment opportunities to build a skilled and diverse workforce.
Households can visit kingcounty.gov/energize for more information and updates on the program. King County will be accepting additional applications this fall.
