{"id":11680,"date":"2019-12-28T16:47:20","date_gmt":"2019-12-28T21:47:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/?p=11680"},"modified":"2019-12-30T14:10:59","modified_gmt":"2019-12-30T19:10:59","slug":"how-to-electrify-everything","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenneedham.org\/blog\/2019\/12\/how-to-electrify-everything\/","title":{"rendered":"How to \u201cElectrify Everything\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Blog post by\u00a0Boston Solar<\/a>, the original post can be found\u00a0here.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

The state of California has been making headlines by taking some huge leaps in climate change legislation in recent years, like banning natural gas lines<\/a> and requiring solar panel installation for new home construction<\/a>. This forward thinking in the fight against climate change has made California one of the top ten eco-friendly states<\/a> in America. But did you know which state also ranks in the top ten? You guessed it: Massachusetts.<\/p>\n

Homes, businesses, and municipalities here in the Bay State are continuing to move away from the carbon emissions of burning fossil fuels. You\u2019ve probably seen more electric cars on your commute and more solar panels on the roofs of your friends\u2019 and neighbors\u2019 homes \u2014 but what about what\u2019s going on inside the home? This is what the electrify everything movement is all about. Let\u2019s take a look at the electrify everything movement, and what you can do in your Massachusetts home to help keep our state one of the top ten greenest in America.<\/p>\n

Definition: Electrify Everything<\/h3>\n
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This catchy term was coined back in 2017 in a Vox article<\/a>, bringing attention to the fact that our homes are a large contributor to human carbon emissions. The electrify everything concept is simple on the surface level, but getting down to the nitty-gritty gets a little more complicated.<\/p>\n

An all-electric home uses exclusively electric appliances. No natural gas, no propane, only electricity. Now you may be thinking, \u201cIsn\u2019t natural gas renewable?\u201d If you are, you\u2019re not alone. Many homeowners are misled by the \u201cnatural\u201d part of natural gas \u2014 but it is still a fossil fuel that comes from a finite source, and still creates carbon emissions! Plus, any appliance that burns fossil fuels in a home risks exposing you to fire and carbon monoxide poisoning.<\/p>\n

Areas to Electrify<\/h3>\n

Take a minute and think about all of the different appliances in your home that burn a fuel other than electricity. Think you\u2019ve got them all? Let\u2019s go through each area of the home to see where electrification is needed.<\/p>\n

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Heating and Cooling<\/h3>\n

You may not burn fossil fuels to cool your home in the summer, but oil- and gas-based heating is a bit of a legacy here in New England. Upgrading to electric heating and cooling with an appliance like a heat pump system is an important first step in electrifying a home.<\/p>\n

Air source heat pumps have become the go-to energy-saving, all-electric home comfort solution. They are extremely versatile because have both heating and cooling settings, and can be used to supplement your existing air conditioner or can be combined with multiple indoor air handlers as a whole-home solution. For Boston Solar customers looking to electrify their homes, we partner with NETR, Inc.<\/a> for their expert heat pump installation.<\/p>\n

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The Kitchen<\/h3>\n

The phrase \u201cNow we\u2019re cooking with gas!\u201d has its merits \u2014\u00a0cooking on a gas stove can be a satisfying experience. Unfortunately, cooking with natural gas or propane in your home also poses a risk to your indoor air quality, and is not nearly as safe as an induction oven range.<\/p>\n

An induction cooktop uses an electromagnetic field to heat up your cookware and provides many benefits, such as:<\/p>\n