What Uses Gas in My Building?

These four appliances in your home are helping kill the planet...

What Has The Most Climate Impact? 

Space heating and water heating have, by far, the most impact on greenhouse gas emissions in your home. If you drive a Subaru or similar 30+ MPG vehicle, it is likely that your space heater is impacting global warming more than your car. If you drive a Tacoma or any heavy, body-on-frame truck, your gas emissions in your house are likely higher than the emissions of your truck.

The chart below outlines the greenhouse gas emissions of each system in the average home in the Truckee-Tahoe region.

Why Electrify My Home?

We Have To
Burning fossil fuels is shortening our ski seasons, increasing avalanche danger, and lowering our lake level. Let's stop burning gas.

It's Easy
The electric replacement for your Tacoma might not be affordable quite yet, but everything you need to electrify your home is ready and waiting.
It's Safer
 Fumes from our stoves are causing asthma in our children. Pipes underground are prone to leaks and explosions. Getting rid of flammable gas throughout is a safe bet.

You'll Save Money
Running water heaters and space heaters with electric heat pumps is less expensive than using gas, especially if you get your power from Truckee Public Utility District - where heat pumps are half as expensive to operate as gas water heaters or furnaces. 
 ​

"But I Like My Gas!"

Gas is a fossil fuel. Worse yet, "natural gas" is just another term for methane (CH4). When it leaks, which it does, it is 84 times worse for the environment than carbon dioxide.

If you're an environmentalist, ask yourself these simple questions:

​Do you believe in climate change? If yes...
...Do you believe it is caused by burning fossil fuels? If yes...
...Do you believe that solar, wind, and other renewables will eventually power our homes? If yes...
...What excuse you could possibly have to continue to burn fossil fuels in your home?
​

What Do I Need to Do?

 It's easy! Just electrify these four things in your home or business next time you go to replace it. The most cost-effective time to electrify is when it is time to change-out your equipment. 
Water Heater
Per pound of carbon dioxide avoided, switching from a gas to a heat pump water heater is the lowest cost way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in our lives. If you are a California resident, the new TECH incentive released on 12/7/2021 will cover $3,100 (about 50%) of the total purchase and installation cost.

​Due to Tahoe's relatively cold climate, it is recommended to utilize a 240V/30A heat pump hot water heater which has electric-resistance backup, and the largest tank size available - typically 80 gallons.
Cooktop
"Now you're cooking with gas" was a marketing term created by the fossil fuel industry. The attachment that Americans have to their gas cooktops is by design. Luckily, there's a better way. Electric induction cooktops, now widely available in the United States, are faster, more precise, and safer than their gas counterparts.
  • Faster - I tested this last week and had a can of Campbell's Soup on a rolling boil in 41 seconds.
  • More precise - Induction ranges are not like the traditional coil-style or smoothtop electric ranges of the past. They work by inducing a current directly into the cookware, allowing unprecedented levels of control while cooking.
  • Safer - the additional safety is two-fold. First, induction ranges automatically turn off when a pot or pan is removed from the surface. This eliminates the possibility of a fire or burn due to a burner mistakenly left on. Secondly, removing gas combustion from our kitchen reduces the indoor air quality risks associated with gas stoves.
​Don't take my word for it! I have a portable induction burner sitting in Tahoe City waiting for you to borrow and test anytime. Try before you buy!
Space Heater
As you might guess, space heating is the biggest use of gas within Tahoe homes and businesses. Heat pump systems allow a standard air conditioning system to run in reverse, provided consistent heat that is four times as efficient as traditional gas furnaces. For buildings which already use air conditioners - or are adding one - choosing a heat pump upon air conditioning replacement is a near cost-free measure. For the vast majority of homes and buildings in Tahoe which lack air conditioning, the costs could be high. In California, the new TECH incentive will cover $3,000 in costs. 

The most cost-effective way to electrify a building's space heating system is based on the existing system type. With the variety of custom homes in Tahoe, the best solution can vary. This is the primary reason I started Electrify Tahoe. I'm a registered Mechanical Engineer with experience designing these systems. Drop me a line if you are thinking of electrifying your heater and need help.
Clothes Dryer
Electric and gas dryers are invented by the same person and released in the same year - 1940. Gas dryers and electric dryers of the same make and model are typically identical in price. You might already have one in your house.

​It is recommended to install a 240V/30A dryer, which may require the addition of an electrical circuit in the laundry room. If the vent ductwork is longer than five feet, a booster fan might help dryer effectiveness.

When Do I Do It?

I'd love to electrify every building immediately. Frankly, that's probably the speed we should be moving. However, the most cost-effective time is when you are replacing your gas-fired appliance, adding a new appliance or building a new building. Starting at replacement rate today can put us on the path to zero carbon by 2037.
Picture


Don't Wait Until It's Too Late

​This stuff isn't very hard, but it won't always be mindlessly easy.
  • Plan ahead - Many of these conversions will require coordination an electrician to add wiring in addition to the plumber or HVAC installer. That requires coordination. In this day and age, getting a contractor isn't always easy. Planning ahead will help ensure that when your gas appliance is up for replacement you are not stuck continuing to invest in fossil fuels due to lack of time.
  • Look at your unique situation - If your house on has 100A service, you will either need to use smart practices or upgrade your service. (For what it's worth, I'm planning on going all-electric without upgrading my 100A service.)
  • Talk to an expert - If you're read this far, you might see a trend. I've been working on this topic for fifteen years so that you don't have to. If electrifying your home seems like something you want to do, drop me a line.​

About

Think of Electrify Tahoe as a bootfitter for your all-electric life - providing the solution that best fits your current home or building. All assistance is free to local residents and businesses, including:
​
  • Electrification roadmap consults (1 hour visit to your home or building to help you understand your best path to electrify)
  • Recommendations for specific equipment being replaced
  • Lending of induction ranges
  • Answering typical FAQs - "what about the grid, what about power outages, etc."
  • Questions related to electrification ordinances & Reach Codes

Electrify Tahoe is a volunteer effort by Blake Herrschaft (PE, LEED AP) a resident of Tahoe City and one of the leading global experts in carbon free buildings. I am an Architectural Engineer who has designed dozens of the most sustainable buildings in the world, including LEED Platinum, Net Zero, and Top Ten Green Building award-winning buildings across five continents. My career has been singularly focused on ending fossil fuel use on land.

​This is an effort by me to give back what I can to the local community that has been so good to me,  I can promise that at some point you'll want to electrify your home or building. It is the only viable path to zero carbon building operation at scale. If you are ready to make the change, I'm here to help.