Electrify or Not to Electrify?

Is electrification of our homes and buildings the right way to go? This is a topic of much debate among the energy and building communities. Assuming you are convinced that this is the path forward, the more specific question could be, “What are the best ways to electrify your homes and buildings?”

What do we mean by “electrification?”

It renders images of being struck by lightning or strapped to Dr. Frankenstein’s lab table. That’s certainly not what we’re talking about here. When it comes to buildings, electrification means to replace equipment and appliances that use fossil fuel—natural gas, propane, oil—with versions that use electricity. Common examples of this include replacing natural gas furnaces with electric heat pumps to heat the home or replacing natural gas water heaters with electric ones (often heat pump water heaters, since these are highly efficient).

Why do we electrify buildings?

The main reason cited to electrify our buildings is to allow buildings to use “cleaner” sources of energy. Depending on your criteria, this could include sources such as nuclear energy, solar and wind energy, and hydroelectricity.

Another much-discussed aspect of electrification is the ever-increasing use of electricity, including appliances like TVs and computers, smart home systems, electric fireplaces and other plug-in devices, spas and pools, and of course, electric vehicles. Adding more of these devices requires more electricity to power them and adds to the bigger question: “How do we do this effectively and efficiently?” In most cases, our homes and buildings were designed and built with certain expectations for electrical energy usage. In older homes, for example, electrical panels may only be rated to 100 amps or in some cases, less. Additionally, electrical service from the utility to our homes and neighborhoods may not be sufficient to meet this growing demand.

Should we electrify?

This is a highly charged question (no pun intended) because the fossil fuel industry represents a significant aspect of our economy, and many companies and people rely on it for their livelihood. However, we must recognize that fossil fuels are a finite resource and if we expect to power our future, we need to do so largely with electricity. If this is the case, then we must answer the question: “What are the best ways to electrify homes and buildings?”

It can become a circular discussion, but I’m convinced that electricity is the future, and at the same time, fossil fuels are a critical element of this transition. If we understand and accept this, we can devise a strategy to get us there with maximum benefits and minimal costs. What do you think?