Is your home electrified?
Didn’t we electrify our homes decades ago? Well, yes, but that’s not the kind of electrification I’m talking about.
Modern home electrification is relatively new and it’s attracting attention for lowering the environmental impact of housing. But what does it mean? And should you consider electrifying your home?
Today’s home electrification is less like our great grandparents’ transition from oil lamps to lightbulbs and more like our shift toward electric cars. (In fact, electric cars were developed ahead of their time—by a British inventor in the 1830s.)
Both transitions involve switching fuel sources from the direct burning of fossil fuels to electricity. Today, the electricity you use to electrify your home and power your stove, tankless heater, or tumble dryer can come from one or more of many sources, including wind power, solar power, and hydroelectric power. These options give us the flexibility to choose energy based on price, availability, and impact on the earth.
From a real estate perspective, this transition is worth your attention. Even if you’re not planning to sell for decades—in fact, especially if you’re not planning to sell for decades—this evolution is worth considering. It’s widely thought that in the future, homebuyers will expect properties to be at least partially electrified. And if you transition sooner rather than later, you can enjoy the fuel savings and tax credits.
If you’re interested in electrifying, check out the four appliances that give you the most bang for your buck:
1.) An electric stove or oven. People love “cooking with gas,” a term invented by the gas industry, but electric alternatives are plentiful and can be safer.
2.) An electric water heater or tankless heater. These have been around a while, but they’re getting more efficient and less expensive.
3.) An electric tumble dryer.
4.) An electric heat pump. Probably the most radical of the electrification choices, heat pumps are also the least understood. Even with our Minnesota winter climate, a heat pump is a solid option. Think of an air conditioner in reverse.
There’s a vast universe of information about home electrification online. Even here in the Twin Cities. Dig in and consider the savings, impact on the earth, and the potential to sell your home for more down the road. And if you’re planning on making a purchase today or in the next few years of a new furnace, oven/stove, or water heater, consider the alternatives.