With six local cities partnering to fight against climate change, the Energy Smart Eastside (ESE) program is going stronger than ever, according to Mercer Island sustainability program manager Alanna DeRogatis.

For the last four years, the cities of Mercer Island, Bellevue, Issaquah, Kirkland, Redmond and Sammamish have connected with their residents to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by switching to high-efficiency electric heat pumps.

ESE reached a major milestone this year by arriving at the 500 mark for heat pump installations since the program’s inception — the number stood at 515 at press time — with Mercer Island notching 31 installs since 2022.

“Heat pumps are included as one of the actions in our Climate Action Plan,” DeRogatis said. “Not only are they far more energy efficient than even other electric forms of home heating, they offer cooling benefits. Additionally, they filter the air, so you get better indoor air quality.”

ESE is plugged into the overall heat pump scenario by educating residents, streamlining installation processes with contractors and providing financial incentives for low- and moderate-income households. Residents are making clean energy upgrades and saving on their energy bills.

“Cities have an important role to play in fostering market transformation, and programs like ESE are essential to meeting our long-term emissions reduction goals,” said ESE program manager Sarah Phillips in a press release. “The results from the recently released annual report show that our efforts are paying off.”

ESE notes that in 2024 alone, heat pump installations through ESE incentives are estimated to save 9,300 metric tons of CO₂ over their lifetime, and estimations show that ESE-supported projects brought in nearly $8 million in business to local firms, according to the press release.

DeRogatis said that overall, the ESE program has received several million dollars in grant funding. Mercer Island is allocated a portion of that funding with its amount based on number of households; MI represents 5% of the total number of households across the six ESE cities.

Mercer Island’s funding sources for the program to date are as follows: city investment ($32,179); Puget Sound Energy ($51,000); Community Energy Efficient Program Grant ($72,235); Home Electrification and Appliances Rebate Program ($212,896); and Commerce Grant ($55,000).

Along with heat pumps, DeRogatis said the city is looking at adding water heaters, clothes dryers and e-bikes into the decarbonization mix to build on the program’s momentum while also using the educational piece and financial incentives for residents.

The partnership between the six cities has been hugely beneficial in serving many more residents and becoming a more attractive candidate for grant funding, DeRogatis said.

By pooling resources and sharing expertise, “We’re actively thinking of next steps and to strategize for the future. Having so many different people kind of at the table to kind of bounce those ideas around, I think is super beneficial.”

To view the ESE 2024 report, visit: https://www.energysmarteastside.org/annual-report.