We’ve chosen the most helpful articles, books, and videos we could find to help you on your journey to 100% electrification. If you find something great that you think belongs on this page, contact us.
Topics:
The Climate Impact of “Natural” Gas (Methane)
- Building with Less Climate Pollution: Building Decarbonization 101 (Oregon Citizen’s Utility Board, March 30, 2022). To create a future that cares for both people and planet, we need to build better. Better homes, better places of work, better schools, better buildings. This blog covers why buildings are a major climate issue, explore “decarbonization,” and look at action steps for building with less climate pollution.
- California oil regulator confirms methane leak at idle oil wells in Bakersfield (LA Times, May 22, 2022. Across much of California, fossil fuel companies are leaving thousands of oil and gas wells unplugged and idle, potentially threatening the health of people living nearby and in many cases handing taxpayers the bill for the environmental cleanup. ““This massive methane leak is happening in a community right next to homes in close proximity to a school and a daycare center,” according to Coordinator Kobi Naseck with Voices in Solidarity Against Oil in Neighborhoods.
- What is Renewable Natural Gas? (Oregon Citizens Utility Board, May 20, 2022). It is unlikely that alternatives to fossil natural gas can meet future demand for households, much less do so affordably. California studies have found that even under optimistic scenarios, renewable natural gas is expected to be much more expensive than natural gas. It concluded that electrification is a more economic strategy to decarbonize buildings.
- Methane emissions from the energy sector are 70% higher than official figures (February 2022) The IEA’s Global Methane Tracker shows emissions from oil, gas and coal are on the rise again, underscoring need for greater transparency, stronger policies and immediate action.
- Fossil gas has no future in low-carbon buildings (Rocky Mountain Institute, January 2020)
- Zero Coalition Oregon: Decarbonizing Oregon’s Buildings.
- This report about Multnomah County says “gas stoves are health hazards, especially to children,” in this article published by The Oregonian.
“For children who live in a home with a gas stove, the increased risk of asthma
is on par with living in a home with a smoker.” – Brady Seals, manager, RMI,
a nonprofit focused on sustainability. Seals is the author of a study examining the health effects of gas stoves.
Source: New York Times March 16, 2022 “Turning Off the Flame.”
Public Policy
- Ithaca becomes first city in U.S. to try and electrify all buildings
- Bellingham OKs measure to curb commercial natural gas use
- California’s Cities Lead the Way to a Gas-Free Future . This blog summarizes the cities and counties that have already adopted gas-free buildings commitments or electrification building codes (i.e., “reach codes” that go beyond the statewide building code) and is regularly updated to reflect the latest wins in California. Ordinance language is also linked.
- The wrong policies will hinder electrification — here’s what we need to do (October 2021)
- Emerald Cities Collaborative Building Electrification Project. (April 2020)
- Building Electrification Institute. BEI was founded on the assumption that cities can be powerful agents of change by piloting innovative and equitable solutions to building electrification and de-risking these approaches for state, regional, and federal actors.
Electrifying Your Home
- How Much Does a Heat Pump Cost? The folks at Carbon Switch sought out to answer the question; How much does a heat pump cost? Carbon Switch surveyed 125 homeowners across the United States and Canada, reviewed previous research, spoke with experienced installers, and analyzed publicly available data from states like Massachusetts and California to help answer this question. This article summarizes what they learned.
- What are the hurdles to electrifying a home? Contractors and experts weigh in. Installing heat pumps and induction stoves can be costly and complex, but they boost homeowners’ health and comfort — and benefit the climate too. (Canary Media, February 2022
Electrify Everything in Your Home
A free e-book from Rewiring America, Electrify Everything in Your Home is a guide to replacing all of your fossil-fueled appliances with modern electric ones. Once you electrify:
Each chapter includes info about what your options are for that electric appliance, how to get started, questions to ask contractors, suggestions for how to best run the appliance, and links to more info.
