Santa Rosa council considers requirement for new homes to be independent of natural gas

Grace Kaufman
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“Santa Rosa may soon require that new homes be equipped to operate without natural gas, a shift city leaders hope could cut carbon emissions and lend momentum to green-building designs gaining favor after last year’s destructive wildfires. The City Council late last month directed staff members to research and draft an “all-electric-ready” ordinance that would…

All-electric homes are becoming the default for new residential construction in Sacramento

Grace Kaufman
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“DR Horton plans to build 104 homes complete with heat pump space heating and cooling, heat pump water heating, induction stoves, and no natural gas infrastructure in the new “Independence” and “Juniper” communities. Six model homes have been completed and construction is expected to continue throughout 2019. Under its All-Electric Smart Home program, the Sacramento…

Energy Savings, Consumer Economics, and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions from Replacing Oil and Propane Furnaces, Boilers, and Water Heaters with Air-Source Heat Pumps

Grace Kaufman
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To achieve the ambitious worldwide goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 80% or more by 2050, consumers and businesses will increasingly need to use heat pumps powered by low- or no-carbon electricity for space and water heating. But does electrification make sense for homeowners considering the switch? This report finds that replacing oil and propane…

Why utilities and environmentalists can find common (green) ground

Grace Kaufman
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“More Americans have installed rooftop solar panels, which further reduces demand. Many in the power industry worry about the sustainability of their traditional business model. Environmentalists fear losing ground during an Administration that has repudiated the Paris climate accord and the EPA’s Clean Power Plan. Here’s the deal: the power industry commits to an even cleaner grid…
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