Robert Hogue
Using fossil fuels like natural gas in buildings has a significant impact on carbon emissions. In fact, emissions from buildings in California are greater than the state’s power plants. That’s why replacing your home’s aging space heaters and water heaters with electric options is one of the most effective ways to reduce your carbon footprint.
Technological advances in electric heat pumps have made them more affordable for space heating and hot water heating. Electric induction stoves for cooking are about the same price as direct-fire gas stoves, but are increasingly being preferred over gas stoves. At the same time, the electrification of buildings is becoming more widely recognized as a good opportunity to reduce carbon emissions. The topic of electrification has become more prominent in discussions and publications among many community-minded people in our area. The local city council is considering changes to the building code to encourage the electrification of appliances in both new and existing buildings.
However, many of you are aware of the recent court decision over building code changes to phase out natural gas appliances in homes and buildings in the city of Berkeley. California restaurants want to keep open-fire cooking options in their kitchens. The California Restaurant Association sued the city of Berkeley and won in court. The court decision has made other cities hesitant to implement similar building code changes. While the decision is good for restaurants, it has unfortunately halted climate electrification reforms indefinitely for all other buildings and homes, establishing a precedent that will be difficult to reverse.
Meanwhile, cities are considering air pollution regulations as a way to eventually limit natural gas use in buildings. The California Air Resources Board and the Bay Area Air Quality Management Board are considering requirements for zero-NOx water heaters and space heaters, and some municipalities already have zero-NOx appliance requirements in their building codes.
Electrifying our homes and buildings is one of the easiest and least expensive changes we can make to reduce our carbon emissions, but this movement is currently driven primarily by volunteer efforts. Even with a compelling justification and broad relative support, state laws, local building codes, and air pollution regulations take time to implement. Therefore, we rely on volunteer efforts to get this movement off the ground.
There is also opposition to electrification. Some organizations, such as the California Restaurant Association, believe that electrification will harm business. Some homeowners are hesitant to electrify their grids due to concerns about the hassle and cost. As a result, electrification may be seen as a sacrifice to make to reduce climate change.
No, electrifying your home when appliances wear out and need replacing isn’t just an act of charity. It’s a transition from old, outdated technology to new technology that’s cleaner, more reliable, more energy efficient, and more cost-effective. This transition will happen over time anyway, but doing it now will accelerate the replacement of the old with the new, and reduce your carbon emissions at the same time.
These moves will prevent America from becoming a backward country. America has always led the world in technological advancement. But even China is now more progressive than America in adopting some new technologies. Let us not succumb to resistance and slowness to change imposed by vested interests to stop us from leading the advancement of mature technologies and setting an example for the world. Let us start by making wise decisions about our own country.
Rob Hogue lives in Menlo Park., He is a retired mechanical engineer and an active member of the Citizens Climate Lobby and the Peninsula Interface Climate Action Group.
