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Big Win for a Greener Future

  QuitCarbon Team  ·  2 minute read

QuitCarbon clinches prestigious Department of Energy prize, further advancing access to clean home energy.

Ever wondered how your home could make a real difference in the fight against climate change? We have, and we're delighted to be an award-winner in the Department of Energy's (DOE's) Equitable and Affordable Solutions to Electrification (EAS-E) competition!

EAS-E-1

The prize brings additional resources and funding for QuitCarbon, helping advance our mission to make home electrification accessible and affordable for everyone.

What is the EAS-E Prize?

The EAS-E Prize is the DOE's single largest prize program to support innovation in equitable electrification retrofits. It aims to accelerate the development of innovative solutions that make home electrification easier, more affordable, and more widely accessible. 

The prize is structured in two phases:

  • Phase 1: Teams submitted concept papers outlining their solutions for affordable electrification. Six finalists, including QuitCarbon, were selected, each receiving $5,000 in cash and $75,000 in vouchers to work with DOE national laboratories or “Connectors” to develop their concepts further. 
  • Phase 2 (current and final phase): Finalists demonstrate the market and commercial viability of their solutions, with the top winners receiving substantial cash prizes to bring their innovations to life. The criteria for this phase include the feasibility of the solution, its impact on reducing carbon emissions, and its potential for broad application across different housing types.

A Year of Progress and Innovation

In April 2023, QuitCarbon was selected as one of six winners in Phase 1 of the EAS-E Prize. Among the many entrants, QuitCarbon was the only organization of its type to be selected. We stood out from the competition with our innovative approach to streamlining electrification retrofits for homeowners and contractors. Learn more about the Phase 1 finalists.

In May 2024, we completed our submissions for the Phase 2 competition. Winners are expected to be announced on August 7. We can't wait to hear and share the news!

Productive Partnerships

Over the past year, we've been lucky to team up with some amazing government partners. Highlights include partnering with the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) ENERGY STAR® program to help homeowners make their homes cleaner and more efficient. And, thanks to the EAS-E Phase 1 prize, we received voucher-funded access to experts at the US DOE's Pacific Northwest National Lab (PNNL) and National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL). (Read more about NREL's research on renewable energy buildings here.) This enabled us to undertake significant research and development initiatives, getting invaluable advice along the way.

We consulted with PNNL on marketing insights and messaging for home electrification, which helped our outreach strategies. Additionally, through our collaboration with NREL, we sought expert opinions on the QuitCarbon App and identified opportunities for its improvement by incorporating DOE datasets and models.

Collaborating with NREL

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We allocated 85% of our EAS-E voucher to NREL, engaging their researchers to consult on expanding the utility, specificity, and standards compliance of QuitCarbon’s software platform.
  • Stepping up Our Software:  This included detailed plans for improving our software and processes to become IRA-compliant (BPI-2400 certified) and more aligned with DOE-based standards like Home Energy Score.
  • Improving Savings Forecasts: Much of our collaboration with NREL focused on determining how QuitCarbon can use DOE-developed modeling tools and datasets to implement “high-resolution” bill impact predictions, giving low-to-moderate-income (LMI) households confidence in near-term savings from electrification retrofits.

With our services, software, and outreach, QuitCarbon has emerged as a scalable solution, democratizing home electrification retrofits across diverse income brackets.

QuitCarbon's Winning Formula

  • Innovative Solutions: Our approach to home electrification isn't just about replacing old systems with new ones. We developed software and free services to make electrification retrofits significantly faster and easier for homeowners and contractors. 

  • Affordability and Accessibility: We are dedicated to ensuring that our solutions are affordable for a broad range of homeowners. This commitment aligns perfectly with the EAS-E Prize’s goal of equitable electrification.

  • Collaboration and Research: Through our collaboration with local and federal government agencies, we’ve been able to conduct extensive research and community outreach to develop solutions that are practical and highly effective. 

Now is the perfect time to take the next step toward making your home safer and cleaner. Request a free home assessment now.