It’s never a good time when your furnace and air conditioner give out. For Lowry resident Cindilou Peniston, the sudden need for a replacement wasn’t just a budget challenge—it felt overwhelming. But thanks to a timely community connection, Cindilou didn’t just replace her old system; she made a confident, future-focused move: she went electric!
The catalyst? The reliable monthly calendar from Lowry United Neighbors (LUN).
Cindilou, wanting to make a decision that tracked with her environmental beliefs, saw a listing for a “Home Electrification” informational meeting, sponsored by LUN Climate Action Committee, an organization she knows and trusts. The LUN presentation featured expert speakers from GEC (Go Electric Colorado)—a group of retired professionals—engineers, scientists and tradesmen who donate their time to help homeowners navigate and demystify the transition to electric home systems.
“I liked what I heard, but I’m not mechanical or technical. I needed guidance,” Cindilou admitted.
After the meeting, she spoke with a GEC coordinator, a retired physicist, who offered the simple solution: “We can assign you to a Coach.” GEC coaches are volunteers. They walk you through the process and do not benefit financially from any decision made by their client. The service is free. This option really resonated and a coach was assigned.
Cindilou embraced the idea of guided planning. Her Coach helped her structure the project into manageable steps:
- The Audit: Getting an energy audit from a recommended organization, an affordable, no strings attached, starting point. The audit, which cost her a few hundred dollars, helped her understand the unique needs of her home and which systems made sense to replace.
- The Bids: Gathering four competitive bids and learning that not all HVAC companies install electric.
- The Questions: Crafting a comprehensive questionnaire to vet each company on experience, licensing, and service plans.
All the bidders cooperated. They came to her home to review her existing heating and a/c set up that was to be replaced and completed her survey. They provided specific quotes based on her needs. It was an expensive project. The company that she chose was not the lowest bidder but showed some flexibility and willingness to negotiate.
After comparing the four bids and answers from each bidder with her Coach, the path became clear for Cindilou. She learned that while electric systems might be an investment, they are now competitively priced with gas replacements, offer long-term savings, and are significantly better for the environment. Plus, Xcel Energy rebates helped seal the deal! “It wasn’t a hard decision”, she said. “I just needed the facts.”
Cindilou ultimately installed a state-of-the-art dual-fuel heat pump system, replacing both her furnace and AC. The hybrid system smartly switches to gas only when temperatures plunge below 20 degrees. The heat pump sits on the front/side of her home. It looks good.
This successful transition wasn’t just about money or technology; it was about trust. Cindilou credits LUN’s reputation and credibility for giving her the initial confidence to attend the meeting and begin the process. Finding the right, credible resource, was the critical first step in taking on a big, necessary project. For Cindilou, going electric went from a daunting expense to a truly informed, confident decision, all thanks to her community network.