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With listings in every corner of the United States, Airbnb has an unparalleled opportunity to help people electrify their homes. Toward that end, Airbnb hired PVG to design and deliver an Airbnb electrification program that would lower the barriers to electrification for its U.S. Hosts.
Overview
Through access to public credits and rebates as well as private discounts and benefits, PVG focused on unlocking billions of dollars in home value for Airbnb Hosts, reducing emissions by hundreds of millions of metric tons, and making Airbnb the industry leader in sustainable travel.
Host Campaign
Electrification presented Airbnb Hosts with a unique opportunity for lower energy bills, higher property values, smarter climate actions, and safer and healthier homes. But many Hosts weren’t yet aware of these benefits. Thus, PVG kicked off the Airbnb work by creating a multi-media campaign for Hosts to learn about the benefits of electrification. Additionally, PVG provided a personal electrification planner to help Hosts calculate the financial incentives specific to them and different electrification measures.
Massachusetts Pilot
To design and implement Airbnb’s first electrification pilot, PVG used its modeling tools to analyze the incentive landscape and quantify the total addressable market in different regions of the country. Based on our analysis, Massachusetts emerged as a prime market, with heat pumps as the most impactful appliance to pilot in that market. We then implemented a pilot that included: dedicated Host customer service via Abode Energy Management; streamlined Host access to local rebate programs; and, provided Airbnb grants for Hosts on top of local public rebates (Max: $2,500 per Host). The pilot performed at or above our expectations and exceeded baseline conversion rates of the overall Mass Save program.
National Program
To expand beyond Massachusetts, PVG advised that Airbnb offer a wider variety of electrification options, including EV chargers. PVG managed the RFP for EV charging companies and helped the Airbnb Business Development team assess the proposals. Airbnb launched the program with ChargePoint in May 2024, providing access to charging hardware, installation services, and support services. Airbnb Hosts were offered a 36 percent discount off the cost of select ChargePoint hardware models as well as $100 off on installation services.
Impact Achieved
- Helped Airbnb significantly reduce the out-of-pocket costs for Hosts—by 59 percent for Weatherization, 26 percent for Heatpumps, and 36 percent for EV Chargers.
- Promoted Airbnb as a national leader on innovative funding and incentives for electrification, paving the way for Airbnb to launch a fossil-free homes category by 2030.
PVG has been a great thought partner to Airbnb, leveraging their deep subject matter expertise to help us figure out what actions would drive the most climate and economic impact for our Hosts and leverage our unique position in the market. They have been indispensable in developing and implementing that vision.
Ameet Konkar
Head of Sustainability
