Our family has completed several energy efficient retrofits on various homes we have owned over the past 13 years. Our motivation has primarily been to reduce our family’s carbon footprint in order to mitigate the negative effects of climate change. We purchased this home in March 2021 while residing in our previous home just down 1 block on the same street that led us to move to Portland in 2019. We had retrofitted that home, and we intended to do the same to this house, in addition to possibly installing a rooftop solar array and battery backup system as well.

After we moved in, we removed the existing tankless water heater, air conditioner units, and gas furnace, and replaced them with a hybrid heat pump hot water heater and an air source heat pump system with 2 air handlers and 2 air filters/purifiers, along with 2 ductless mini-splits for the basement. We quickly went under contract to sell the home down the street which helped us decide to install an 11.52 kW PV solar array and battery backup system. The array was installed in July 2021 and PTO from Pacific Power came in September, but the batteries were backordered. Additionally, after waiting for several months for a new induction range and oven due to global supply chain issues because of the pandemic, we were finally able to get one installed in September 2021.

We continued to wait for the Tesla PowerWalls we had ordered back in April, which were also delayed because of supply chain problems. While waiting, I learned more about smart electrical panels that would enhance a whole-home battery backup systems, so we installed a SPAN panel in December 2021. Then in February, with another delay in PowerWall delivery, in addition to Elon Musk’s controversial tweets, I decided to revisit battery options and decided to switch to the Enphase IQ system. I decided that they would provide a safer product with several advantages for our home, in addition to better 1-stop-shop integrated customer service. Within about 2 months of changing the order, the Enphase battery system was installed and commissioned, and we are totally happy with this choice. Then, in January 2024, we conducted a Home Energy Audit after which we added insulation and air sealing in various locations where the audit identified issues. Lastly, we are very supportive of our contractors and the equipment installed.