Beating Climate Change With A New Energy Grid

New Study Confirms Benefits of Electrifying CA Buildings

Pierre Delforge, April 15, 2019 (Natural Resources Defense Council)

“…About half the pollution from California's buildings comes from burning [natural gas], primarily for heating and hot water…[Moving to heating and water with electricity generated by New Energy can] slash greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) from California's single-family homes by up to 90 percent within the next three decades, save consumers money in the process, and support the] state's ability to achieve its goal of carbon neutrality by 2045 [according to a new study from Energy+Environmental Economics]…That means outfitting new homes with high-efficiency, electric-powered heating systems and water heaters, and retrofitting existing homes when the old gas equipment needs replacing…

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…[New Energy] is getting cheaper than electricity from gas power plants…[Sustainably-produced renewable gas can play a role but it is in limited supply and has a higher] cost…[Full electrification would reduce greenhouse gas emissions in single-family homes by about 30 percent to 60 percent as soon as next year. As the carbon intensity of the grid decreases over time, the savings increase to about 80 percent to 90 percent by 2050…[For new construction, going all-electric will save] $130 to $540 per year…[87% of existing homes can save] by switching from a gas furnace and air conditioner to an electric heat pump system that provides both heating in winter and cooling in summer…[To achieve the state’s GHG reduction goals,] at least half of existing residential buildings, or more than 7 million homes, will require retrofits…[Policy drivers will be needed because that] is a huge task…” click here for more

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