It turns out you don’t always need an electrician to electrify your home. As part of a pilot project with CalNEXT, homeowners and community volunteers in Los Banos were invited to attend contractor-led trainings that taught them how to upgrade their own household appliances — and help their neighbors do the same.
Through the pilot, CalNEXT provided education, training, and available financial incentives to increase the adoption of 120-volt electric appliances, including room heat pumps, heat pump dryers, and heat pump water heaters. Room heat pumps efficiently heat and cool spaces up to 400 square feet, heat pump dryers often incorporate a washer to handle a full load of laundry start to finish with no transfer, and heat pump water heaters are the most efficient water heating technology. Contractors partnered directly with homeowners and community volunteers on these electrification projects, giving residents hands-on experience while getting real upgrades installed in their homes.
The pilot’s contractor, SunWork, had been running this same volunteer-homeowner partnership model for solar installations for more than 15 years. SunWork then brought that same approach to 120-volt electrification.
The pilot held its first installation on August 3, 2026, giving one Los Banos resident a new heat pump water heater. Having already installed solar on her home, the homeowner was a strong candidate for water heater electrification. She was thrilled with the result: “You too can get a new heat pump electric water heater! The installation was very professional, and they even upgraded some pieces of the house to make it safer and better than when they arrived. [It was a] great experience that was good for the environment and my pocketbook.”
According to Reuben Veek, SunWork’s Operation Director and the pilot’s lead installer, the safety upgrades the homeowner described involved replacing an undersized ground wire that bonds the gas pipe and hot- and cold-water pipes at the water heater location.
The pilot offered multiple benefits to the Los Banos community. Residents had the opportunity to receive free equipment, learn more about 120-volt electrification, and volunteer to help their neighbors with electrification projects. The success of the pilot and enthusiasm among participants was encouraging and provided a strong example of how electrification, education, and training can support community climate goals, improve indoor air quality, and reduce utility bills.