Expanding Low Income Electrification in Chicago with ComEd and Resource Innovations

Zero Homes is proud to announce a major expansion of our work in Chicago through a partnership with Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) and the City of Chicago. This new phase of partnership will allow us to double the number of fully funded home electrification retrofits for even more income-eligible households across the city.

ComEd, a member of the Exelon family of utilities, has been a critical partner in this work. We're especially excited for the strong start to our collaboration with Exelon and it’s operating utilities following our recent award from their Climate Change Investment Initiative (2c2i) program, which recognizes the role of community-scale climate solutions in achieving equity and emissions goals. With the 2c2i funding and this new contract, Zero Homes is better equipped than ever to bring affordable electrification to the communities that need it most.

This program supports a wide range of upgrades that help lower energy bills, improve indoor air quality, and reduce carbon emissions. Eligible homeowners can now receive no-cost improvements including:

• Heat pumps for heating and cooling

• Heat pump water heaters

• Electrical panel upgrades

• Weatherization measures (insulation and air sealing)

• Energy-efficient washer/dryer installations

• Electric cooking equipment

• Window and door upgrades

• Remediation for health and safety issues

This is about more than equipment — it’s about comfort, savings, and dignity. We’ve been proudly serving eligible Chicago homeowners since late 2024, and in that time, we've already completed over 100 home electrification improvements. These retrofits have delivered average annual savings of more than $900 per household, while laying the groundwork for healthier, all-electric living.

This expanded contract is a meaningful step forward for climate resilience, energy justice, and neighborhood health in Chicago. 

If you’re interested in bringing programs like this to life in your community, get in touch with us to see how we can help.