GREEN BUILDINGS COMMITTEE

Confronting the Climate Crisis Requires Equitable Building Electrification

September, 2021

In California, 25 percent of greenhouse gas emissions come from our buildings. To eliminate these emissions, we need energy efficiency, a renewable electricity grid, and elimination of gas-burning appliances. We also need to minimize embedded carbon -- emissions used in the process of buildings.

Of the 25 percent of emissions that buildings generate, 15% comes from electricity drawn from the power grid and the remaining 10% comes from direct emissions, primarily methane "natural" gas-burning appliances, but also leakage of refrigerants and some other sources.

The electric grid is rapidly switching to renewables thanks to statewide mandates and rapidly falling costs of solar power. Senate Bill 100 (De León 2018) set a statewide mandate to get to 100% renewable energy by 2045, and Mayor Eric Garcetti has committed Los Angeles to hit that target by 2035. Increased adoption of rooftop solar and improved efficiency can help us get there faster, even as increased usage from electric cars and appliances increases demand.

Thanks to the greener grid, on paper it appears that emissions from buildings are falling, but the 10% of statewide emissions that come from direct building emissions are falling much more slowly, if at all.

That's why our committee is particularly interested in building electrification -- switching from methane gas burning heaters, water heaters, clothes dryers, and ovens/stoves. We work to advocate for this at the local and statewide level, and to help educate the public on the benefits of this transition.

Beyond the climate benefit of electrification, there are also public safety and health benefits. For example, more information has come to light about the dangers of indoor pollution from gas stoves.

To eliminate greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality, we will need to replace all gas-powered appliances, a massive retrofit effort. This will be a huge job creator, but also very expensive. Every new gas hookup adds to the future retrofit bill, which is why most of the effort thus far has been on electrification of new buildings.

Fifty cities and counties in California—including Oakland, San Francisco, Sacramento, San Jose, and Santa Barbara—have banned or discouraged gas hookups in new buildings already. On September 22, Encinitas became the first city in San Diego County to require all-electric buildings. Los Angeles County is getting left behind.

As we engage in this transition, we must consider equity and labor concerns. Who will bear the cost of retrofitting existing buildings and supporting the aging gas infrastructure? How many jobs will be eliminated, and how can we support those workers?

Our committee believes an equitable solution means making sure everyone, including renters and people in lower-income neighborhoods, are able to benefit from this transition. That's why we are advocating for an inclusive process to identify the best, most equitable and affordable pathways to transition.

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