Gov. Jared Polis recently announced a collaboration with Google.org and the nonprofit Rewiring America. They launched a tool to help Coloradans calculate their energy savings, the Colorado Energy Efficiency Upgrade Savings Calculator. The tool is funded by a $5 million grant from Google.org.
“With this new tool, Coloradans can easily access discounts on heat pumps, electric vehicles, solar power and more. These clean energy upgrades save Coloradans money, potentially thousands of dollars, and will help Colorado achieve our climate goals to help future generations,” said Gov. Polis.
The calculator was created to help families calculate their savings from upgrading to a more energy-efficient lifestyle. Those savings come from the many incentives and credits available from federal, state and local sources, according to the governor’s press release announcing the project.
“Tens of thousands of dollars in local, state, utility, and federal incentives make these zero-emission technologies more affordable and accessible,” said Colorado Energy Office Executive Director Will Toor. “This easy-to-use tool will help Coloradans maximize these incentives to pay the lowest possible cost for home energy upgrades, which reduce pollution and save them money on utility costs.”
The calculator was the brainchild of the nonprofit Rewiring America and the Google.org Fellows. Rewiring America is an organization that promotes electrifying communities. According to the governor’s announcement, the Google.org Fellows are a team of engineers, program managers, and other IT experts who work on pro bono projects.
“Collaborating with Rewiring America enabled our Google.org Fellows to support the creation of a cross-country impact by helping American households take advantage of these new electrification incentives,” said Bhavna Chhabra, senior director of software engineering and Google’s Boulder office lead. “It’s a great example of how advanced technology, like AI, can be leveraged in a bold and responsible way. As a Coloradan, I’m proud that our state is leading on climate solutions at the household level.”
The savings calculator also has language translation capabilities and is designed to be easy to operate. The collaborators hope that the tool helps households reduce their climate impact without economic compromises.
“We’re thrilled to launch this new tool in a state that is truly leading the way on residential electrification, thanks to Gov. Polis’ leadership and the effort of so many advocates,” said Ari Matusiak, CEO of Rewiring America. “We look forward to continuing to work in partnership to make these important home upgrades more affordable and accessible to all. With this calculator, households in Colorado are only a few clicks away from the next steps on their electrification journey.”
To access the calculator, go to Homes.RewiringAmerica.org/Calculator.