Our homes are a significant source of carbon emissions that are warming the planet, and sometimes it feels like we don’t know how to fix it. 

Residential and commercial buildings account for 13% of greenhouse gas emissions in the US. Some of that is a result of burning fossil fuels directly for heating and cooking, but a little more than half comes from indirect emissions of home electricity use, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

This story is part of CNET Zero, a series that chronicles the impact of climate change and explores what’s being done about the problem.

To reduce those emissions, Americans will need to electrify our home systems that burn fossil fuels, while (just as crucially) increasing efficiency to use less electricity overall, especially until the grid decarbonizes. But that’s much easier said than done: The US has some 147 million housing units, each of which will have a unique path to electrification and energy efficiency. 

Sounds like a lot of work, right? It is. Even our CNET survey revealed that more than half of Americans view energy efficiency upgrades as unattainable or not worthwhile. 

Recently, I’ve felt the pull to get my hands dirty and help change this. This probably started when I read Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson’s new book, What If We Get It Right?, and used her climate action Venn diagram to help me figure out what more I could do. I first landed on the idea of “writing about climate change,” but the book encouraged readers to choose an action they weren’t already doing, and that went beyond simply communicating about the climate (guilty on both counts).

So when I stumbled upon a free course run by Rewiring America and Abode Energy Management to become a certified electric coach — basically, someone who can help homeowners speed up their transition away from fossil fuels — it felt like a great way for me to take action.

The course taught me more than I ever thought possible about heat pumps, home insulation and electric appliances, just to name a few topics. And I also got connected to hundreds of other coaches who are excited about helping their friends and neighbors electrify.

Here’s a peek into the process of becoming an electric coach — and why you should consider becoming one, too.

Electric coaches come in many shapes and sizes. Rewiring America pitches the course to just about anyone — whether you’re a community leader, a realtor or just an excited neighbor. 

Whatever their background, electric coaches are people who work within their communities to share knowledge about and advocate for home electrification or act as guides for homeowners who are transitioning away from fossil fuels. 

Some coaches might operate one-on-one, helping individual friends and neighbors develop electrification plans, while others might also give group presentations or organize green home tours.

This doesn’t mean that electric coaches have the technical expertise of, say, an HVAC contractor. You won’t find them doing the nitty-gritty work of designing a heat pump installation. But a coach could help a homeowner sort through quotes from a contractor, for example, and guide them to the right decision.

Rewiring America’s course was fairly comprehensive. It took place over four weeks, with eight hours of live coursework (on Zoom), plus optional office hours. Here’s a breakdown of what we learned:

• Week 1: To start off, we learned about the “home as a system.” This idea emphasizes how the literal mechanical systems interact with the building and the occupants’ behavior to determine its energy use. We also looked at how air can flow through (and leak from) a home, and what types of weatherization or insulation can make a home more energy efficient.

• Week 2: Next, we examined the many ways to power a home and increase its efficiency, including everything from induction stoves to heat pump water heaters and rooftop solar. We learned the pros and cons of these technologies and when each one might make sense for a homeowner.

• Week 3: This was our deep dive into electric heat pumps, the uber-efficient heating and cooling machines that make a great alternative to fossil-fueled heat. We discussed the many types of heat pumps and the different solutions that can fit into different homes.

• Week 4: Putting it all together, we looked at the federal- and state-level financial incentives available for sustainable home technologies. We also learned communication strategies we can use in our conversations as coaches.

Even as a journalist focusing on home electrification, I found myself typing copious notes and learning far more than I expected from these lessons.

Did you know, for example, that heat pump clothes dryers exist? Or that sometimes the most important home energy improvements are the least sexy ones, like improving insulation?

These insights would be useful for anyone who wants to work on their own home, but they also empower coaches to educate their friends and neighbors on the path to electrification.

As the course aptly pointed out, homeowners are much more likely to trust friends and family for product recommendations than, say, a random journalist on the internet (well-meaning as he may be). 

That means you can have a big impact as an individual who cares about home electrification. It’s one thing to email your friend an article about the benefits of heat pumps. It’s entirely another to show them your own heat pump installation, and help them understand whether one makes sense for their home. 

You can apply for the next cohort of Rewiring America’s course, but other coaching groups are out there, too. The Cape Ann Climate Coalition in Massachusetts, for example, has a network of volunteer heat pump coaches. Look for climate and environmental groups in your area to see if there are similar opportunities to get involved.