Looking to improve the efficiency of your home, reduce energy bills, and improve indoor air quality? Then, check out the City of Goleta’s “Electrify Goleta” webinar on home electrification and heat pumps.

The City of Goleta recently launched a new program to lower the cost of adopting clean technology in your home. The Heat Pump Permit Fee Waiver program is designed to encourage home electrification by reducing financial barriers to installing electric heat pump systems. To share the launch of this pilot program with the public, the City hosted the “Electrify Goleta: Heat Pumps & Electrification Incentives” virtual Lunch and Learn webinar on May 20^th.

The City’s Sustainability team was joined by representatives from Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) and the Tri-County Regional Energy Network (3C-REN) to discuss the technology and benefits of electric heat pump devices, share information on the City’s permit fee waiver program, and highlight several ways that 3CE and 3C-REN help residents of Goleta electrify their homes.

This City's new pilot program waives the permit fees to install an electric heat pump water heater or HVAC system in residential buildings in Goleta. To qualify, an electric heat pump system must be installed at the time-of-replacement for an existing gas-powered water or space-heating appliance.

Heat pumps are highly efficient appliances that run entirely on electricity to heat water and air, offering several advantages over standard heating and cooling appliances. Their efficiency and reduced energy consumption can create substantial energy savings for households, particularly compared to gas-powered devices. They are significantly safer to operate, removing the risks of gas leakage or flame combustion incidents, and they provide better home comfort by improving indoor air quality. Electric heat pumps also significantly reduce household greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to environmental protection and creating home and public health benefits from cleaner air.

If you would like to learn about Goleta’s Heat Pump Permit Fee Waiver program, along with several other electrification incentives provided by 3CE and 3C-REN to Goleta residents, you can view the recorded webinar on the City’s YouTube channel. You can also learn more about the program and electrification on the City’s website and submit questions to Sustainability@cityofgoleta.gov.