Update other equipment
Update other equipment
Why?
You might have other gas-burning hazards in unsuspecting places.
Sonoma Clean Power's Advanced Energy Center is a great free resource - you can call for expert advice (707-708-0444), stop into their showroom for a tour of their equipment displays (741 4th Street Santa Rosa, CA, 95404), find relevant rebates and qualified contractors on their website, and learn more about electrification on their education hub.
Switch to electric clothes dryer
For the days when you can’t hang your clothes outside, an electric dryer is the next-best thing. Metal heating coils dry clothes quickly, and electric dryers tend to be less expensive than gas models. If you’re in the market for a dryer, look for one that is ENERGY STAR certified. If all clothes dryers in the U.S. had this certification, Americans could save more than $1.5 billion each year in utility costs. The savings in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions would equal that of removing about 2 million gas vehicles from the road.
Get advice: Advanced Energy Center
Energy Star: Clothes Dryers
Forbes: The Best Electric Dryers to Help You Tackle Laundry Day Efficiently
Switch to electric yard equipment
Here are two fun facts to bring up at your next dinner party:
In just one hour, a commercial, gas-powered leaf blower emits pollution equal to driving a Toyota Camry 1,100 miles! (And all of that pollution is concentrated right outside your home.)
Gas leaf blowers, lawnmowers, and generators, emit more air pollutants statewide than California’s 14 million cars! (So if you’ve already made the switch to a cleaner vehicle on the road, make sure you aren’t still a gross-polluter in your yard.)
California has banned the sales of small off-road engines (SOREs) like these by 2024. In the meantime, if you need new yard equipment, do the air, animals, climate, and yourself a favor and instead choose electric yard equipment -- both corded and cordless are available. More efficient and so much quieter, too! And here’s a nifty tip: if you buy multiple tools from the same manufacturer, you can use one battery interchangeably.
Sonoma Clean Power: Electrify Your Yard
Consumer Reports: 5 Green Reasons to Choose Battery-Powered Lawn Tools
California Air Resources Board: Small Off-Road Engines in California
Switch to electric grill
Here’s one more to consider – your grill. You may not get quite the same smoky flavor and aroma of a gas or charcoal grill, but you eliminate the harmful effects of smoke. And an electric grill may be particularly appealing for those who don’t have access to a safe outdoor space for gas grilling. Before you make a purchase, be sure to consider cooking size, storage, and ease of cleaning. And, if desired, explore options for mimicking that smoky flavor of a gas or charcoal grill.
Food & Wine: The Best Electric Grills of 2023, Tested and Reviewed
