This Is the Whole Thing: Energy Efficiency for Electrification
Last Friday, I had the chance to speak with the Kalamazoo County Climate Crisis Coalition, and it was one of those moments where the full picture really clicked. The full talk is available here:
👉 Watch the full video
This was more than a presentation — it was a blueprint. The “whole thing,” as I like to say. At the core is one simple but powerful concept: energy efficiency as the foundation for electrification.
Why Energy Efficiency First?
We’re in a moment of massive transition — away from fossil fuels and toward a cleaner, all-electric future. But electrification doesn’t make sense in a vacuum. Swapping out a gas furnace for a heat pump in a leaky, poorly insulated home won’t reduce emissions nearly as much as it could — and it might leave homeowners frustrated with high energy bills.
Efficiency is the prerequisite.
When we seal up air leaks, add insulation, and optimize how homes and buildings use energy, we shrink the size of the load that needs to be electrified. That means smaller, more affordable equipment, lower operating costs, and better comfort — especially important for the most vulnerable households.
This Is the Whole Thing
In the talk, I lay out how this approach fits into:
Equitable decarbonization strategies
The economics of retrofits and electrification
Workforce development (who’s actually doing the work)
Local and statewide programs (like MiHER and utility incentives)
This is a moment to bring clarity to what could otherwise be a scattered push for climate solutions. And I really believe that when we get efficiency right first, everything else — from heat pumps to induction stoves to rooftop solar — becomes simpler, smarter, and more scalable.
What’s Next?
I’d love for you to check out the full talk and share it with anyone in your circle who’s working on — or curious about — climate action at the community level. Whether you're a homeowner, policy advocate, tradesperson, or just someone trying to make sense of the clean energy transition, this is for you.
Let’s keep moving forward, but let’s do it thoughtfully — starting with the basics.