Representatives of Energize Connecticut told the Simsbury Sustainability Committee that the program offers no‑cost heat‑pump consultation services for homeowners and businesses, rebates tied to an approved installer network, and online tools to estimate costs and savings. The presenters said the commercial consultation program has more immediate availability than the residential service and asked the committee to help reach small businesses in town.

The presenters — Elizabeth Terry, Amy Rainwater and Matt Corona — said their team provides 15‑ and 45‑minute consultations that range from a basic explanation of heat‑pump technology to help evaluating contractor quotes and modeling seasonal performance. "We're an unbiased resource for any home or business at any stage of their heat‑pump project," Corona said. Terry noted the team does not do sales or installations and that incentives come through the Energize Connecticut programs administered by the state's utilities.

Why it matters: Heat pumps can reduce operating costs compared with electric resistance heat and can form part of building electrification strategies. The presenters told the committee they can help schools, municipal buildings and commercial properties evaluate projects and check eligibility for incentives, which the presenters said are funded through a small public benefit charge on utility bills.

Program details and contractor rules: The presenters described an installer network that must be enrolled for customers to receive rebates. "As long as they're on the heat pump installer network, then that customer would be eligible for those rebates," Amy Rainwater said. Enrollment requires licensed, insured status and, according to the presenters, can take a few days if documentation is in order. The presenters said Energize Connecticut manages the installer network and therefore cannot endorse specific contractors.

Tools and cost estimates: The group showed a Clean Heating and Cooling online calculator that gives a preliminary estimate of upfront and operational costs. For the example raised by a participant who uses a window air conditioner and electric baseboard heating, the presenters said a heat pump could reduce annual operating costs by roughly half compared with electric resistance heating. "This is a great preliminary resource," Corona said, adding that the program can perform more precise quote comparisons using modeling software when customers provide contractor performance data.

Barriers and outreach: Committee members and presenters discussed barriers for small businesses, including time to solicit and compare quotes and concerns about downtime during HVAC replacement. The presenters and committee suggested in‑person outreach and partnering with the Chamber of Commerce to connect directly with business owners. The Energize Connecticut team offered to participate in local events and to provide materials and case studies where available.

Promotions and follow up: Committee members reported a temporary promotion that waives the fee for the Home Energy Solutions audit when scheduled in a specific period; presenters confirmed awareness of the promotion and said they would follow up with materials. Committee members agreed to share program links on the Green Coalition Facebook page and to explore joint outreach with local partners.

Attribution and scope: Quotes and attributions in this article come from presenters Elizabeth Terry (heat pump support team, Energize Connecticut), Amy Rainwater (heat pump support team, Energize Connecticut), and Matt Corona (heat pump support team, Energize Connecticut); questions and comments came from committee participants identified in the transcript as Jamie, Danielle and Joe. The presentation did not include any formal votes or binding municipal commitments; committee members agreed to follow up on outreach and information sharing.

Next steps: Energize Connecticut representatives asked the committee for introductions to local business outreach channels and offered to provide materials, links to the calculator and to consider participating in merchant or Chamber events to increase commercial uptake.