{"id":37185,"date":"2023-04-28T10:56:24","date_gmt":"2023-04-28T15:56:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/?p=37185"},"modified":"2024-09-01T13:17:22","modified_gmt":"2024-09-01T18:17:22","slug":"what-is-electrification-a-cub-explainer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2023\/04\/28\/what-is-electrification-a-cub-explainer\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Electrification? A CUB Explainer"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-37187\" src=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Building-Electrification-Blog-Photo-300x225.png\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Building-Electrification-Blog-Photo-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Building-Electrification-Blog-Photo.png 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>What\u2019s with all the buzz about electrification? CUB has a new <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/citizensutilityboard.salsalabs.org\/betterheat\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u201cBetter Heat\u201d guide<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that explains this topic in-depth, but here\u2019s a quick CUB explainer to help break it all down.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>What is electrification?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Building electrification is the process of replacing fossil-fueled equipment like furnaces and natural gas stoves with their electric counterparts. Switching to electricity to run your home means that your energy can come from clean and more affordable sources like solar or wind, improve indoor air quality and help protect you from high gas costs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Why does CUB support it?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CUB supports the transition to electrification because Illinoisians simply can\u2019t afford not to.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Gas is bad for our bottom lines:<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The volatile gas market subjects customers to recurring price spikes and high charges linked to aggressive utility spending. Currently, Illinois consumers face about $887 million in<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/welcome-cubs-help-center\/#1632922173598-0c6e52c6-7590\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> rate-hike requests<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by the state\u2019s major gas utilities. These problems are felt statewide but seem to be most severe in Chicago, where about one in five customers are consistently one month or more behind on their gas bills. (Last month, we <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2023\/03\/28\/37020\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">held a protest at the Peoples Gas Headquarters<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> against their record $402 million rate-hike request.)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Gas is bad for our health:<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is mounting evidence that gas stoves pollute your home\u2019s air. Sustainability think tank RMI linked the typical use of gas stoves to a 42 percent increase in rates of childhood asthma and additional health problems.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Gas is bad for the planet:<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heating with gas is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. RMI found that 10 states account for nearly 60 percent of greenhouse gas emissions from buildings \u2014 and Illinois ranks third.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Natural gas isn\u2019t a sustainable option, either environmentally or financially, in the long run. It\u2019s time for consumers to explore alternatives.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>How do we electrify?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Electrification requires planning\u2013this won\u2019t happen overnight. But there are steps you can take now to get started.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Complete your checklist of energy efficiency upgrades. <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/clean-energy\/\">CUB\u2019s Clean Energy page<\/a> <\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">has information on tips and programs to make your home more efficient. A\u00a0 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/energysaver\/professional-home-energy-assessments\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">home energy audit<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can help you make a checklist of improvements. Making your home as efficient as possible maximizes savings before you switch from gas. Plus, it\u2019ll help when the time comes to purchase an electric heat pump (see below) to replace your gas heat: An energy-efficient home may require a smaller, less expensive pump.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Manage your energy use.\u00a0 When you use energy is as important as how much you use. You can participate in <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2020\/08\/25\/demand-response-a-win-for-you-the-environment-and-the-grid\/\">\u201cdemand response\u201d programs<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in which you can put off the bulk of your electricity usage to times when electricity demand is lower. By reducing peak electricity demand, these programs help make the power grid cleaner and more reliable, and they can help you save money.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consider using more renewable energy\u2013 you can do this by <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/solar-in-the-community\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">subscribing to a community solar offer<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/introduction-to-rooftop-solar\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">installing solar panels on your home<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. There has never been a better time to go solar.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you\u2019ve done these, consider switching from gas to electric appliances.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/blog\/2023\/04\/03\/announcing-grow-geo-chicagoland-get-the-details-on-cubs-new-geothermal-heat-pump-group-buy\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Geothermal heat pumps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/energysaver\/geothermal-heat-pumps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">most efficient method<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to heat and cool your homes and your water. Homeowners can save up to $1,750 a year by switching from a furnace, air conditioning unit, and gas water heater to a geothermal system.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Air source heat pumps can be up to 60 percent more efficient than a traditional furnace or boiler. In 2021, <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/20211021_PGLStudy.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CUB\u2019s research team released a study<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> showing Chicago homeowners could enjoy lifetime savings of about $25,000 to $50,000 by switching their homes from gas to electric heat pumps.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heat pump water heaters use 70 percent less energy, <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.energystar.gov\/products\/water_heaters\/high_efficiency_electric_storage_water_heaters\/benefits_savings\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">according to Energy Star.<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Induction stovetops are about 5-10 percent more efficient than conventional electric cooktops and three times more efficient than gas models, <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.energystar.gov\/partner_resources\/brand_owner_resources\/spec_dev_effort\/2021_residential_induction_cooking_tops\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Energy Star estimates<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and provide better cooking control for chefs and a safer home.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heat pump dryers, which <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.energystar.gov\/products\/heat_pump_dryer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Energy Star estimates<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> use about 30 percent less energy than conventional units, are closed-loop systems that recycle air and do not require a vent to the outside.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>What are the potential challenges for electrification?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many wonder if we can make the transition here in Illinois with our cold winters and decades of reliance on methane and propane for home heating. The answer is yes, but we need to start planning now to ensure that the transition is equitable for all Illinoisians.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><strong>Can heat pumps work in cold Illinois winters?<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the most common misconceptions about heat pumps is the idea that they do not adequately work in cold-weather conditions. Geothermal heat pumps have worked for decades and thanks to technology upgrades, many leading models of air source heat pumps are now capable of operating at temperatures of -13 degrees F or colder. (The average winter temperature in Illinois is about 30-40 degrees.) Heat pumps have passed field tests in northern Minnesota and the Arctic Circle. In Norway, which has an average winter temperature of about 20 degrees F, about half the households use air source heat pumps.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><strong>Will I need to make electrical upgrades?<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some homes will require a new electric panel or breaker box in order to go all-electric, and depending on the circumstances, this could cost hundreds, even thousands, of dollars. Fortunately, the Inflation Reduction Act provides incentives to help reduce or eliminate the cost of a new panel and over time, this is a worthwhile investment, as it allows you to realize the cost savings of electrification.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><strong>How do I find a contractor to install a heat pump?<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It can be a challenge with a relatively new technology like heat pumps. Look at our \u201cFinding a contractor\u201d section, in <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/citizensutilityboard.salsalabs.org\/betterheat\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CUB\u2019s Better Heat guide<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It\u2019s a good idea to confirm if the individual contractor working in your home is personally certified and not just that their company is certified in designing and installing your new system.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Are there incentives to electrify?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Inflation Reduction Act enacted last year contains several federal incentives for electrification and home improvement. Our <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/citizensutilityboard.salsalabs.org\/ira\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CUB Guide to the Inflation Reduction Act<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> covers the details. (The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency says Illinois residents may not see rebates available until May 2024 due to delays in federal program guidance. In the meantime, you can take advantage of the available tax credits and utility company incentives.)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Does CUB have resources to help me electrify?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/citizensutilityboard.salsalabs.org\/betterheat\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Better Heat Guide<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has more information on heat pumps and alternatives to natural gas. Our <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/clean-energy\/\">Clean Energy landing page<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has more resources on <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Heat-Pumps.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Heat Pumps<\/a><\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and efficiency tips.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What\u2019s with all the buzz about electrification? CUB has a new \u201cBetter Heat\u201d guide that explains this topic in-depth, but here\u2019s a quick CUB explainer to help break it all down.\u00a0 What is electrification?\u00a0 Building electrification is the process of replacing fossil-fueled equipment like furnaces and natural gas stoves with their electric counterparts. Switching to electricity to run your home means that your energy can come from clean and more affordable sources like solar or wind, improve indoor air quality and help protect you from high gas costs.\u00a0 Why does CUB support it?\u00a0 CUB supports the transition to electrification because Illinoisians simply can\u2019t afford not to.\u00a0 Gas is bad for our bottom lines: The volatile gas market subjects customers to recurring price spikes and high charges linked to aggressive utility spending. Currently, Illinois consumers face about $887 million in rate-hike requests by the state\u2019s major gas utilities. These problems are felt statewide but seem to be most severe in Chicago, where about one in five customers are consistently one month or more behind on their gas bills. (Last month, we held a protest at the Peoples Gas Headquarters against their record $402 million rate-hike request.)\u00a0 Gas is bad for our health: There is mounting evidence that gas stoves pollute your home\u2019s air. Sustainability think tank RMI linked the typical use of gas stoves to a 42 percent increase in rates of childhood asthma and additional health problems. Gas is bad for the planet: Heating with gas is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. RMI found that 10 states account for nearly 60 percent of greenhouse gas emissions from buildings \u2014 and Illinois ranks third.\u00a0\u00a0 Natural gas isn\u2019t a sustainable option, either environmentally or financially, in the long run. It\u2019s time for consumers to explore alternatives.\u00a0 How do we electrify? Electrification requires planning\u2013this won\u2019t happen overnight. But there are steps you can take now to get started.\u00a0\u00a0 Complete your checklist of energy efficiency upgrades. CUB\u2019s Clean Energy page has information on tips and programs to make your home more efficient. A\u00a0 home energy audit can help you make a checklist of improvements. Making your home as efficient as possible maximizes savings before you switch from gas. Plus, it\u2019ll help when the time comes to purchase an electric heat pump (see below) to replace your gas heat: An energy-efficient home may require a smaller, less expensive pump. Manage your energy use.\u00a0 When you use energy is as important as how much you use. You can participate in \u201cdemand response\u201d programs in which you can put off the bulk of your electricity usage to times when electricity demand is lower. By reducing peak electricity demand, these programs help make the power grid cleaner and more reliable, and they can help you save money. Consider using more renewable energy\u2013 you can do this by subscribing to a community solar offer or installing solar panels on your home. There has never been a better time to go solar. Once you\u2019ve done these, consider switching from gas to electric appliances. Geothermal heat pumps are the most efficient method to heat and cool your homes and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":null,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"default","_twitter_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type":"default","_pinterest_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"default","_medium_share_type":"","_threads_share_type":"","_google_business_share_type":"","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[739,460],"tags":[1403,1402,1453,1350,169],"class_list":["post-37185","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cub-guide","category-renewable-energy","tag-better-heat","tag-building-electrification","tag-cub-explainer","tag-heat-pumps","tag-solar"],"cp_meta_data":{"classic-editor-remember":["classic-editor"],"_edit_lock":["1725215356:5"],"_edit_last":["5"],"_wp_page_template":["default"],"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":[""],"_wpsp_is_facebook_share":["off"],"_wpsp_is_twitter_share":["off"],"_wpsp_is_linkedin_share":["off"],"_wpsp_is_pinterest_share":["off"],"_wpb_vc_js_status":["false"],"_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":["What\u2019s with all the buzz about electrification? CUB has a new \u201cBetter Heat\u201d guide that explains this topic in depth, but here\u2019s a quick CUB explainer to help break it all down."],"_yoast_wpseo_content_score":["30"],"_yoast_wpseo_estimated-reading-time-minutes":["5"],"_yoast_wpseo_wordproof_timestamp":[""],"borntogive_page_header_show_hide":["2"],"borntogive_pages_title_show":["1"],"borntogive_pages_Choose_slider_display":["2"],"borntogive_pages_select_revolution_from_list":["3"],"borntogive_pages_slider_pagination":["yes"],"borntogive_pages_slider_auto_slide":["yes"],"borntogive_pages_slider_direction_arrows":["yes"],"borntogive_pages_slider_effects":["fade"],"borntogive_pages_body_bg_wide":["0"],"borntogive_pages_body_bg_repeat":["repeat"],"borntogive_pages_content_bg_wide":["0"],"borntogive_pages_content_bg_repeat":["repeat"],"borntogive_pages_social_show":["1"],"borntogive_strict_no_sidebar":["0"],"borntogive_sidebar_columns_layout":["3"],"borntogive_gallery_slider_pagination":["yes"],"borntogive_gallery_slider_auto_slide":["yes"],"borntogive_gallery_slider_direction_arrows":["yes"],"borntogive_gallery_slider_effects":["fade"],"_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":["460"],"_wpb_post_custom_layout":["default"],"_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":["off"],"_facebook_share_type":["default"],"_twitter_share_type":["default"],"_linkedin_share_type":["default"],"_pinterest_share_type":["default"],"_instagram_share_type":["default"],"_selected_social_profile":["a:0:{}"]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37185","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37185"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37185\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41192,"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37185\/revisions\/41192"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37185"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37185"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37185"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}