This is part of a series on electrification in New Mexico.
42% of climate change is due to our decisions. Saul Griffith mapped the entire flow of energy from generation to end use using a Sankey diagram. In 2007 he was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship (“genius grant”). In his book Electrify: An Optimist’s Playbook for Our Clean Energy Future he comes up with the 42% figure. As long as we are using fossil fuels in our homes and for our transportation there is no way to stop producing fossil fuels. No need to point the finger at others. Saul Griffith teamed up with Senator Martin Heinrich to insert provisions into the Inflation Reduction Act to help all of us eliminate fossil fuel use in our homes and transportation.
We have been living in the age of fossil fuels where natural gas was the cheapest way to heat our homes, gasoline was the best way to fuel our cars and gas stoves were cherished as the best way to cook our food. My gas boiler went out one April and I could not stand the thought of putting in another gas boiler and so began my journey learning about electrification. Three years ago I had the natural gas disconnected. All my cars are electric vehicles (EVs). Along the way I discovered we no longer are in the era of fossil fuels but have entered into the age of electrification. Some things I learned are that electric stoves can be induction which heat faster and are more precise than gas stoves. That heat pumps can power many things in a home and do it cheaper and more efficiently than natural gas. No longer do I have to get oil changes and change spark plugs and have tune ups for my cars. Electric is more efficient than fossil fuels, safer and healthier and since it is easy to add a microprocessor it opens the door to all sorts of functionality beyond what we have with fossil fuels.
We complain about methane leaks during oil and gas exploration and transmission of natural gas but methane leaks by end users is probably as great or greater. Often there is the objection that the electric grid is not clean. But almost all new generation is solar and wind so electrification almost completely eliminates any fossil fuel use. And if solar PV is also installed then this guarantees to a large extent that no fossil fuels will be used.
What I discovered is the operating costs after electrification are usually cheaper and often much cheaper. The upfront costs can be high and the payback periods may be long but if upgrades to the house are not required like upgraded electric panels then electrification saves money. There are many programs to help with these upfront costs including the Inflation Reduction Act, utility incentive programs and state incentive programs. There are so many of these that it is difficult for anyone to keep track of them. To find federal and utility incentives a good resource is Rewiring America. For New Mexico, 350NM keeps track of state level incentives. Utilities provide energy audits which are sometimes required to unlock their incentive programs. Incentive programs come and go but even without them electrification is probably financially worthwhile in the long run. Electrification is a process; it took me 20 years to achieve it although it should get easier as more people undertake it. The most important thing is to have a plan. Know your options since sales people often are happy to keep you in a fossil fuel world that they understand and where they can make more money. If this is all too confusing and you need help developing a plan QuitCarbon may be able to provide free help.
This is the intro to a more detailed series on electrification. Join me on my journey! New products and options are entering the market so the ones that I mention are just a starting point for your journey.