Green Tip: The Cheapest Time to Go Electric

The Palisadian-Post has partnered with locally founded environmental organization Resilient Palisades to deliver a “green tip” to our readers in each newspaper. This edition’s tip was written by Sara G. Marti, board member and communications director. R ecently, Resilient Palisades hosted a webinar with Rewiring America, where Zac Swank of Boulder County shared lessons learned from the Marshall fire. One thing he said stopped me in my tracks: “When stuff is in your head, that’s the cheapest time to change it.”

As a neighbor who also lost a home, I try to approach all of this gently.

“Do your best, you don’t have to be perfect, do what you can when you can.”

But Swank’s reminder hit home. Once rebuilding begins, every change costs more. Planning for electrification early, while ideas are still on paper, saves time, money and stress later on.

In Boulder County, 21% of rebuilds went all-electric, and those homeowners saved and continue to save money. 70% built above code minimum for energy efficiency, just for additional insight. But the lesson: building smarter from the start pays off. In comfort, health and resilience.

If you missed the webinar, the recording is available on Youtube. And if you’d like to see electrification in action, join us on Saturday, November 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Paul Revere Charter Middle School for “Our Electric Future: A Community Rebuild Celebration.”

Test an induction stove, see a solar-powered roof sprinkler in action, talk to local contractors and enjoy free food. There will also be face painting, music, and family crafts and activities.

Free admission, RSVP encouraged at resilientpalisades.org/electrify.