Is Electric Better Than Gas for Homes?

Is Natural Gas Cleaner Than Coal and Oil?

Natural gas has long been touted as a cleaner energy option to coal and oil—and it is slightly cleaner: the US Energy Information Administration shows that natural gas emits 43% less carbon dioxide per unit of energy than coal. But it is still a non-renewable fossil fuel that emits CO2, methane (a much more potent greenhouse gas than CO2), and nitrogen oxides (NOx), a precursor to smog.

What Is Natural Gas Used for Today?

Around 48 percent of homes still rely on propane or natural gas for their primary heating needs. The installation of gas-powered fireplaces has steadily increased in recent years as a comfortable and luxurious secondary heat source. On the other hand, gas cooktop stoves for cooking only account for 11 percent of total natural gas demand in the United States. Today then, the majority of natural gas in homes is used for heating needs within our homes.

Why Is Natural Gas Bad?

Despite industry claims that natural gas is a “clean” fossil fuel, the Energy Information Administration finds that natural gas still emits 117 pounds of CO2 per million British thermal units (Btu) of energy produced. As natural gas deposits grow, ever scarcer, more energy-intensive, and environmentally degrading extraction technologies are being utilized. “Fracking” requires pumping a toxic sludge to fracture the ground rock. The fracking industry has been linked to the massive contamination of groundwater, among other environmental problems.

What Are The Benefits of All-Electric Homes?

There are several benefits of opting for all-electric homes, which we will detail below.

1. More energy-efficient devices and appliances: electric devices and appliances tend to be much more energy-efficient than their gas-powered counterparts. Convection ranges and stovetops, for example, use much less overall energy for cooking than gas cookers. Similarly, heat pumps are widely considered to be the most energy-efficient way to heat and cool home, while also offering a source of hot water as a byproduct.
2. Cheaper energy bills:  All electric homes allow homeowners the possibility of enjoying the economic benefits of renewable energies. For homeowners wanting to install residential solar panels, there are financing options available that will allow you to experience savings from day one. Even if you don’t own your home or don’t have a roof where you can place a solar array, participating in a Community Solar program will allow you to enjoy the benefits of cheaper (and cleaner) renewable energy.
3. Possibility to move towards zero emissions with the adoption of renewable energies: In the future, our homes are going to have to be net-zero energy(or net-positive energy). Only by eschewing the use of natural gas in our homes will we be able to reduce our total household carbon footprint to zero.
4. Easier to integrate electric appliances with smart home technologies: All-electric homes are naturally positioned to make the most out of smart home technologies. Most electric devices and appliances today can be linked home to a central home automation hub that will allow you to even further cash in on energy efficiency-related savings.

Is Natural Gas Cheaper Than Electricity?

Despite the rapid growth of renewable energy technologies, fossil fuels still account for 63 percent of our total electricity production. The abundance of natural gas that is being unearthed by hydraulic fracturing has led to natural gas accounting for 27 percent of the electricity generated in the United States. The reason for its growth is because it is currently the cheapest way to heat a home. According to CenterPoint Energy, one of the largest energy companies in the country, “natural gas prices are consistently two to three times lower than electric prices.”

What Is the Average Cost of Electricity?

The average national price of electricity currently stands at $0.12 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), while the average price per therm for natural gas is $1.05. A central furnace for a home could expect to use around 489 therms per year for a yearly heating cost of about $513. For comparison’s sake, homeowners in mild climates with all-electric homes spend anywhere between 5,000 and 30,000 kWh for heating. Even the low estimate of 5,000 kWh would amount to a $600 annual heating bill, while the higher estimate for poorly constructed and insulated homes could be as high as $3,600.

Will Fossil Fuels Always Be Cheaper?

As fossil fuel production continues to increases alongside energy consumption, the supply of these fossil fuels will start to diminish.  As supply decreases and demand increases, prices will increase accordingly. The slowly but steadily rising cost of electricity also proves this point as residential electricity rates have ballooned by 15% over the last ten years, mainly due to the increased costs of obtaining fossil fuel energy sources.