Oregonians interested in ditching their gas-powered stovetops for induction cooktops, installing rooftop solar panels or switching to heat pumps to heat or cool their homes are invited to learn about the logistics and economics of doing that at the third annual “Electrify Portland!” fair Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Attendees also are invited to test ride an electric bicycle, take an electric vehicle for a spin, sample Mexican food made by a professional chef on an induction cooktop and indulge in free Ruby Jewel ice cream sandwiches or Ice Queen vegan paletas.
The fair is hosted by the group ElectrifyPDX, which is part of the non-profit organization Families for Climate. Organizers hope that visitors will turn to electricity to power the daily activities of their lives — not only to lessen their burden on the environment, but to save money in the long run.
The potential benefits of switching from gas to electric or to upgrade an older electronic appliance to a newer electric one depends on an individual’s circumstances. For instance, some people love cooking on their gas stovetops. And the potential for cost savings from switching from a gas furnace to a heat pump depends on multiple factors, including the efficiency of the current furnace. Experts in the energy industry also point out that fossil fuels such as natural gas or coal are used about 40% of the time to produce Portland General Electric’s power.
Many federal tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law by former President Joe Biden in 2022, are set to sunset Dec. 31 under the “One Big Beautiful Bill” that President Donald Trump signed in July. That includes thousands of dollars in credits for weatherizing homes with insulation and better windows and doors, heat pumps and heat pump water heaters. A $7,500 federal tax credit on new electric vehicles and a $4,000 federal tax credit on used ones expires Tuesday.
At Saturday’s event, officials from PGE, the Oregon Department of Energy and other experts in the field of electric appliances and devices will talk over the basics of switching or upgrading.
Shannon Wilson, ElectrifyPDX’s program manager, said converting your home to a heat pump water heater can have a big impact on your energy consumption.
“Heat pump water heaters are kind of a newer technology that not many people know about but they’re wildly efficient. So switching from an electric or a gas water heater to a heat pump water heater is going to provide you with savings. And the water heater is typically the second biggest energy user in your house.”
The biggest energy consumer, Wilson said, is typically your heating and cooling system. If your house is heated by baseboard heaters, which are enormous consumers of energy, you could see significant savings to your electricity bill by converting to a heat pump.
The fair is at the Redd event space, 831 SE Salmon St. in Portland.