In Washington, a heat pump initiative is opening to more than just individual households, making cleaner heating and cooling more accessible to families, care providers, and local organizations without requiring them to cover the full cost on their own.
For households looking to lower utility bills and better withstand rising energy prices, that kind of upgrade can make a real difference. Heating and cooling systems are often one of the biggest opportunities buildings have to cut costs while improving comfort.
Here's what to know
The King County Energize program serves qualifying properties in King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Kitsap counties, according to King County Field Notes. Through it, eligible homes and community-serving spaces can get electric heat pumps and weatherization improvements designed to lower pollution and reduce energy expenses.
For 2026 and 2027, adult family homes and family home childcares are set to receive $11.1 million, with about 242 projects anticipated. The expansion also includes $14 million for multifamily rental homes, along with $7 million for community spaces in local government buildings and $4.1 million for nongovernmental buildings.
The initiative launched in 2023 as a pilot in White Center and Skyway. It has reached its 250th heat pump installation, and 90% of installations have been fully covered.
If you own a home and want to explore similar savings, Palmetto can help homeowners understand their HVAC options and slash their energy bills with new HVAC systems and heat pumps. Palmetto's Comfort Plan network can help you find efficient heating and cooling solutions for your home and connect you with vetted installers.
More background
Heat pumps are central to the effort because they can both heat and cool buildings in one system. They can outperform standard gas furnaces by a factor of three to five and can help keep indoor air cleaner during wildfire smoke events, when windows may need to stay shut.
King County said some people enter the program without a working heating system, while others use it to replace expensive heating-oil equipment.
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What's being done?
The program is run by the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks with backing from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Washington State Department of Commerce, the Washington State Climate Commitment Act, and Puget Sound Energy. It also supports local contractors, creating jobs while modernizing buildings across the region.
If you're not ready to spend up front, the Palmetto Comfort Plan includes $0-down options that can lower your heating and cooling costs by up to 50%. It also includes 12 years of free maintenance.
You can also drive costs even lower by pairing solar panels with electric appliances, such as efficient HVAC systems and heat pumps. EnergySage makes it easy to find the best solar system and installer for your home and budget, saving you up to $10,000.
"These upgrades will also lower energy bills, improving affordability while also promoting resilience to the impacts of extreme weather," said King County Executive Girmay Zahilay.
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