The Palisadian-Post has partnered with locally founded environmental nonprofit Resilient Palisades to deliver a weekly “green tip” to our readers. This week’s tip was written by Sheda Morshed.
The Building Decarbonization Coalition, a new nonprofit organization, aims to unite building industry stakeholders with energy providers, environmental organizations and local governments to help electrify homes and workspaces with clean energy.
Last month, DBC launched the “Switch is On” campaign to help California homeowners and contractors switch out gas-powered appliances with cleaner, safer all-electric alternatives.
Decarbonizing your home is essential if we hope to meet California’s climate goals. Gas-burning appliances like heaters, ovens and clothes dryers are responsible for about 10% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
Of course, replacing gas with electricity is only half the battle.
Because utilities are still a long way from 100% renewable energy, new electric appliances still contribute to climate change. But going from gas to electric is still huge progress.
For example, based on the average U.S. utility, new electric heat pumps—which both cool and heat your home—emit 40 to 50% less CO2 than the most efficient gas furnace.
Switching from gas to electric also brings health benefits by improving indoor air quality.
A 2020 UCLA School of Public Health study showed that gas appliances emit pollutants like carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, fine particulate matter and formaldehyde, which have all been linked to various acute and chronic health effects, including respiratory illness, particularly in children.
The study found that after cooking for just one hour with a gas stove and oven, levels of nitrogen dioxide in the kitchen exceed both state and national outdoor acute air-quality standards.
To learn more, visit switchison.org.
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