The city of Mercer Island will join the other Eastside climate partnership cities of Bellevue, Issaquah, Kirkland and Redmond, along with King County, Rewiring America and Electrify Now, to present a webinar, “The All-Electric Home,” from 6:30-8 p.m. on March 8.

“Switching to all-electric appliances, such as heat pumps and induction stoves, can reduce your carbon emissions, improve your comfort and indoor air quality, and often reduce bills,” reads a page on the King County Library System (KCLS) site.

The workshop — hosted online through the KCLS — will review electrification options, provide information on the new federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) incentives and include a live question-and-answer session with experts.

Advance registration is required. Visit: https://1.kcls.org/Electric

The Energy Smart Eastside heat pump installation program — which was piloted by the city of Mercer Island’s sustainability program analyst Ross Freeman and the other cities in 2022 — has been expanded this year with a grant from Washington State University’s Community Energy Efficiency Program. Last year, eight online workshops drew 500-plus attendees from the partner cities and led to approximately 120 free site assessments; 20 installations are currently underway with more to come.

According to the city of Mercer Island, 25 affordable housing units have received no-cost weatherization and heat pumps from funding collaboration with the King County Housing Authority. Mercer Island’s 59-apartment Grace Place is next on the docket.