Reducing Pollutants and Saving Energy by Electrifying Homes in Chicago

New research conducted by Elevate and funded by the ComEd Energy Efficiency Program shows that energy efficiency and electrification upgrades are beneficial for indoor air quality and energy savings.

This case study highlights the benefits of electrification for five homes in Elevate’s Building Electrification Program (BEP), a multi-year electrification retrofit program targeting single- and multi-family homes in neighborhoods where household incomes are less than or equal to 80% of area median income. The homes assessed in this study all received energy efficiency and weatherization retrofits, and each home also received complete electrification retrofits. The project team analyzed nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels and energy use pre- and post-electrification for each of the homes in the study. The case study highlights several outcomes associated with the efficiency and electrification upgrades, including reduced NO2 levels and reduced energy use.

The project team measured NO2 levels pre- and post-electrification in three spaces for each home: bedroom, kitchen, and outside of the home. While some homes experienced greater NO2 reduction than others, in almost all instances, the NO2 levels decreased after electrification. In addition to the benefit of reduced NO2 concentrations, the homes in this study also benefit from energy savings. Average energy savings per home ranged from 54% to 69% during the time period analyzed.

The findings presented in the case study provide insight on energy and non-energy impacts of electrification in Chicago homes. Additionally, this case study highlights the importance of tracking, contributing to, and leveraging existing and emerging industry research to quantify the health-related non-energy benefits of deep energy efficiency whole home and electrification retrofits.

Learn more

Elevate works with owners to remove and replace on-site combustion of fossil fuels at their properties. Visit ElevateNP.org/Building-Electrification to learn more about our services and visit ElevateNP.org/Research-and-Innovation to learn more about our Research and Innovation projects.