Discounted heat pump program enters second year in Thurston County

Energize Thurston, the heat pump campaign for Thurston County, Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater and South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity, is now in its second year.

Energize Thurston aids residents in purchasing and installing efficient, electric heat pump equipment for home heating and cooling, as well as water heating.  

The county announced on Aug. 17 that there is a limited number of free and low-cost installations available to income-qualified households. 

“The campaign will take place in two phases. Phase 1, starting (Aug.) 17, 2026, will offer all interested residents access to equipment discounts, customer support, and free site assessments from certified installers,” said the county in the announcement.

Phase 1 also provides subsidized installations to qualified applicants on the program’s waitlist. 

Phase 2 will open in October to new applicants with household incomes below 120 percent of the Thurston County Area Median Income (AMI), who may qualify for subsidies covering 80-100 percent of equipment and installation costs.   

“Our Energize Thurston partnership secured grant funding over and above last year to expand this program to more of our Thurston County community in 2026,” said Thurston County Board of County Commissioners Chair Tye Menser, in a statement included in the announcement.

South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity was awarded $4.17 million in grants for Energize Thurston in 2026-27.

A total of $3,071,333 came from Washington State Department of Commerce’s Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate (HEAR) Program; $750,000 from Puget Sound Energy’s Residential Decarbonization Program; and $350,000 from Washington State University’s Community Energy Efficiency Program.  

Visit the program website to register for a free educational workshop, view the list of certified installers and schedule a free site assessment.