What can you do to reduce emissions and air pollution in your home?
Switch to a Heat Pump Water Heater:
One of the easiest ways you can make the biggest impact to combat climate change is by switching to a heat pump water heater. Heat pumps are proven technology and have enormous potential to reduce emissions. Heat pump water heaters are all-electric, high-efficiency water heaters that, unlike gas-powered water heaters and electric resistance water heaters, heat water by transferring heat from the surrounding air rather than creating new heat.
Heat pumps work like your kitchen refrigerator, but in reverse. Transferring heat rather than creating it allows heat pump water heaters to be up to four times more efficient than gas and electric resistance water heaters, conserving power and reducing your energy bill.
If you currently use a gas water heater, the switch could decrease your home’s emissions by over 50%. Heat pump water heaters also don’t produce hazardous air pollutants like carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide as gas water heaters do.
Ready to make the switch?
Sign up for our new home electrification campaign in partnership with ReadySetReplace (a Carbon Free Homes company). By participating in the program, you can receive a free assessment of your current gas appliances that can help you become electric-ready and install an electric appliance when your gas appliance needs to be replaced, or sooner. ReadySetReplace will connect you with qualified local contractors and help you receive rebates when installing electric appliances like heat pump space heaters, heat pump water heaters, and induction stoves.
Concerned about the cost of going electric?
Several rebates and incentives are currently offered by Electrify Marin, PG&E, California Energy-Smart Homes, TECH Clean California, and BayREN to make the upfront cost of installing heat pump space and water heaters, electric clothes dryers, and induction stoves much more affordable. Many of these programs offer increased rebates for low-income individuals. With the passage of the federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), significant tax credits are now available for electric appliances and any necessary electrical upgrades to your home. Upfront discounts will be provided for electric appliances sometime in 2024. For more information about all the federal discounts and tax credits, check out Rewiring America’s IRA Calculator. For a comprehensive list of local, state, and federal incentives, check out The Switch Is On.
Energy efficiency upgrades to your home such as attic insulation and duct sealing can also reduce your household emissions by saving energy. Rebates and incentives are available from MCE, PG&E, and BayREN for these types of energy efficiency upgrades. Federal tax credits for energy efficiency upgrades are available with upfront discounts to come sometime in 2024.
Finally, if you’re not already a MCE Deep Green customer, you can opt up to Deep Green to ensure your electricity is 100% renewably powered. If you don’t want to be reliant on the electric grid and are interested in saving money on your electricity bills, consider installing solar panels on your roof with battery energy storage for increased resiliency. With the 30% federal tax credits available through the IRA, installing solar with battery storage is cheaper than ever!
Need help with planning to electrify your home?
It can be daunting thinking about all the gas appliances that may need to be converted to electric in your home or apartment and how to start planning to make this transition. Luckily, Rewiring America has created handy checklists and guides to help both renters and homeowners with this planning process. Download the applicable guide below to get started.
A good first step is have an energy audit conducted of your home. BayREN provides a $200 rebate for an energy audit through their Home Energy Score (HES) program. The HES report details the home's estimated energy consumption and includes recommendations to improve the energy efficiency of the home, which will help save money on utility bills once implemented. A federal tax credit of 30%, up to $150, is also available to help cover the costs of a home energy audit.
By signing up for a Climate Action Workshop series with Resilient Neighborhoods, you can learn how to create a 2030 Action Plan that will help with planning to take high priority climate actions in your household including swapping gas appliances for electric.