Utah is growing 2.5 times faster than the national average according to the 2020 Census. With this growth comes an unprecedented building boom of new homes in Utah. But there’s a catch. All this growth means more energy demand and more pollution if we don’t grow the smart way.
Our homes and buildings are a big part of our air quality and climate change problems, accounting for nearly 40% of the CO2 emissions in our communities. But with some simple fixes, like making new homes “electric-ready,” homes can be a part of the solution.
Electric-ready construction makes it easier to eliminate dangerous pollution from our homes, save families money on energy bills and utilize more of the renewable energy that is constantly being added to our electric grid. All this from adding extra wiring and outlets at the time of construction.
It should be a no-brainer, yet some homebuilders and Dominion Energy are trying to convince people otherwise.
When we talk about making homes electric-ready, it’s about allowing Utah families to make choices about the home they live in. Do I want a gas-powered stove or electric? Do I want a gas furnace or an efficient electric heat pump? Why not wire the garages of our new homes for EV charging? Making homes electric-ready is about giving consumers options.
A recent commentary published in The Tribune by representatives from Dominion Energy and the Utah Homebuilders Association attempted to scare Utahns away from making homes electric-ready, claiming that the costs are too high and the air quality benefits are too low.
With respect, we need to acknowledge that Dominion Energy has a financial stake in our homes using gas in perpetuity, so it is not surprising they are warding people away from electric choices. Utah homebuilders on the other hand can and should do better.
At Garbett Homes, we install electric stoves and wire all our garages for EV charging. We are transitioning all our home plans to all-electric construction. These minor changes to the way homes are built do not break the bank. In fact, we have found it less costly to build this way.
But don’t just take Garbett Homes’ word for it. A study by an energy economics firm named E3 found that the up-front cost to build all-electric single-family and multi-family homes in Utah is cost-competitive with traditional construction. In every scenario, the analysis found that the 15-year lifecycle cost to build and live in an efficient all-electric home is less expensive than a home with gas appliances. When it comes to making homes electric-ready, recent local research finds that adding electric-ready elements during construction is 2 to 4 times cheaper than retrofitting later.
Electric-ready homes not only safeguard our wallets, but they are also incredibly important for the health of the residents living in them. A recent peer-reviewed study from the Brigham Young University College of Life Sciences estimates that poor air quality shortens the average Utahn’s life by two years. What’s more, according to the U.S. EPA, we spend 90% of our time indoors and homes with gas cooking appliances have 50% to over 400% higher NO2 pollution concentrations compared to homes with electric cooking. And children living in homes with gas stoves have a 42% increased risk of current asthma.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. Giving families the option to choose efficient electric appliances makes it easier to eliminate indoor emissions and protect the health of our families.
Giving Utah families choices in how their homes operate should not be a debate. Incorporating electric readiness in newly built homes is not rocket science, it is something all builders can do easily and cost-effectively. At the end of the day, making our homes electric-ready empowers consumers and benefits all of us with affordable homes, a healthier climate, and better health.
Kevin Emerson | Utah Clean Energy
Kevin Emerson is the building efficiency and decarbonization director for Utah Clean Energy and has been working on building efficiency and clean energy policy in Utah for over 15 years.
Bryson C. Garbett | Garbett Homes
Bryson C. Garbett is the president and CEO of Garbett Homes, which has built over 6,700 homes in Utah. He graduated from the University of Utah with an M.D. and from Cornell with an MBA.