These tips can help you upgrade appliances and enjoy the benefits of electricity.

If you want to make your home healthier, live more sustainably and save some money, switching to electric appliances and systems is the way to go. Find out what you should and shouldn't do as you open the door to an electric lifestyle.

Do

Warm up to heat pumps Heat pumps move heat in and out of your home rather than creating it, which is better for the environment and helps you save money. Switching out old space and water heating systems for heat pumps allows your family to enjoy year-round comfort and efficiency.

Cook smarter Ready to upgrade your range? Electric stoves are easier to clean, safer to use and more efficient than gas stoves. Induction cooktops use electromagnetic energy to heat up twice as fast as natural gas and provide more accurate temperature control, too.

Dedicate less time to maintenance Electric vehicles, appliances and other devices have fewer moving parts than their gas-fueled counterparts. Fewer things that can break means fewer things that need to be maintained. These electric upgrades will save you money now and throughout the lifespan of the appliances and systems.

Don't

Only focus on indoor upgrades Electric-powered lawnmowers, trimmers and leaf blowers are great options to add to your lawncare routine. These tools make less noise than fuel-burning models, produce no harmful emissions, and are safer to store and use.

Ignore available financial incentives The cost of replacing an entire system can be steep. Luckily, federal tax credits are available for installing energy efficient heat pumps and heat pump water heaters. State and local incentives may also be available. Search the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency for incentives that may be available in your area.

Stress over the install Did you know that you can perform some electric upgrades yourself? Ductless mini-split heat pump kits make it easy to make your home more comfortable and efficient without needing an HVAC professional with special tools.

There's no better time than now to start the upgrade process today and enjoy all the benefits electricity has to offer.