Moving Forward: Electric Appliances for All

By ANTHONY MARGULEAS | Special to the Palisadian-Post

Los Angeles City Council has made waves with its vote to ban natural gas appliances in all new construction for both residential and commercial buildings as of January 1, 2023. This new law comes as city officials begin to work diligently to fight climate change and air pollution that causes lung damage.

Like all new laws, this one comes with some strong resistance from both the restaurant industry as well as the natural gas industry, which are both fearful of how the law will affect their business models independently.

As many people start to transition their homes and lives to the electric world, the hope is that the reduction in natural gasses will reduce the carbon footprint and aid in the reduction of global warming.

In California especially, the massive increase in wildfires, air pollution and heat waves are cause for concern. Reducing emissions from home appliances, including but not limited to stoves, water heaters, furnaces and clothes dryers can not only reduce California’s emissions, but it can set the precedent for other states to potentially do the same.

While some people are hesitant of the change out of preference and tradition, others are excited for the ease in which electric options work. Electric options can be faster, more efficient and more satisfying overall given their low emissions.

Electric options are also aiding in the reduction of health risks that gas stoves have the potential to cause. Gas stoves release a significant amount of air pollutants, like nitrogen dioxide, that can cause a series of health issues when found or released in significant amounts in the home.

Transitioning from gas to electric can only reduce the risk of bigger problems should a natural disaster strike. Gas explosions and leaks are not uncommon when earthquakes or other natural disasters strike, which can cause even more significant damage than anticipated.

As the city of Los Angeles waits for specifics on what the law really means, we are expecting the law to have flexibility and some clauses that support restaurants and others who may not be able to afford to change their appliances from gas to electric. Gas companies continue to lobby against the new law, arguing that gas is a more financially responsible decision, as the cost of electricity rises, and has a lesser chance of having power interruptions.

Though the new law is still in the beginning process, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Climate Plan promises a city of zero emissions by 2050. So, while it seems to some like a big move, it is just a small step in the eyes of our City Council to transition toward a more sustainable, healthier future for everyone.

Anthony Marguleas is the founder of Amalfi Estates, and has sold close to $2 billion in properties and was selected by the Wall Street Journal as one of the top 40 agents in the country out of one million agents. If you are thinking of buying a home or selling your own, contact Marguleas at 310-293-9280 or anthony@amalfiestates.com.