Kirkland podcast spotlights EnergySmart Eastside rebates that can cut heat-pump costs by thousands
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Summary
On the June 12 episode of This Week in Kirkland, senior sustainability planner David Barnes described how residents can use energysmarteastside.org, vetted installers and multiple rebate programs to reduce the up-front cost of heat-pump installations; low- and middle-income households may qualify for the largest discounts.
On the June 12 episode of This Week in Kirkland, David Barnes, senior sustainability planner for the city of Kirkland, explained how residents can use the EnergySmart Eastside program and utility rebates to reduce the cost of installing electric heat pumps.
Barnes said the city is part of an Eastside collaboration that directs residents to energysmarteastside.org, where people can request help and get vetted installers and an energy adviser at no charge. “energysmarteastside.org,” Barnes said, “...you'll get that in the show now.” He added that advisers can arrange up to three quotes and show which instant rebates a household qualifies for.
That matters because multiple programs can stack. Barnes laid out examples aired on the podcast: households with incomes between 80% and 150% of area median income (AMI) “could get up to $8,600 off of a heat pump,” he said. He also described a $6,000 EnergySmart Eastside fuel-switch rebate for replacing a gas furnace, additional midstream rebates from Puget Sound Energy (quoted in the episode as roughly $300–$600), and a $2,000 energy-efficiency home-improvement tax credit that residents could claim if they act this year. “So it's very energy efficient,” Barnes said of heat pumps, noting they replace both separate heating and air-conditioning equipment in many homes.
Barnes and the hosts walked listeners through the typical process: go to energysmarteastside.org, click “Get started,” fill a short form, and receive outreach from the program. The project will put installers and rebates on the quote so residents can see net costs before committing. Barnes said the program also offers a free energy adviser and that residents are encouraged to get two to three quotes before hiring an installer.
The episode discussed three common scenarios and incentives described by Barnes: households replacing gas furnaces, households replacing older electric resistance systems, and households above the 150% AMI threshold that remain eligible for smaller instant rebates. Barnes also noted Puget Sound Energy programs that can cover up to 75% of the cost of insulation in some cases, with the insulation rebate applied up front rather than as a reimbursement.
Barnes described the heat pump’s function in plain terms: “Heat pump... it moves heat... From one place to another,” and in conversation clarified that the technology can both heat in winter and cool in summer. The podcast emphasized that many of the rebates are instant — taken off the top of the installed price — and that the EnergySmart Eastside collaboration aggregates available incentives so residents do not have to research each program separately.
The city hosts and Barnes noted timing considerations: some incentives and the federal/state tax credit referenced in the episode are time-limited, and residents who want to use a tax credit may need to complete installations within the current tax year to qualify. The podcast advised homeowners to check eligibility and to contact the EnergySmart Eastside program for individualized guidance.
For more details, Barnes pointed listeners to the program website and to the option of speaking with an energy adviser through the service.
The interview ended with hosts thanking Barnes and reminding listeners the episode’s show notes contain links to the programs and resources discussed.
