ENERGY & BUILDINGS
The energy we use in our buildings contributes about 26% of our emissions in the Bay Area.
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Eliminating fossil fuel gas in our buildings is essential: it creates a serious indoor health issue as well as polluting the air we breathe outside. It's not just our appliances, but the energy we use just to keep the lights on and our buildings warm - and cool.
We've broken it down from "easy, start right now!" to more ambitious but very do-able actions like how to get gas out of your home, electrify everything, and where to get expert help, rebates, and inspiration.
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If we get this right, we'll reduce our energy emissions, and make a difference now & for future generations.
1. What you can do right now
Turn off appliances you're not using
If we use less, we pay less. ​The simplest thing we can all do is remember to turn off what we're not using: lights, our computers, video games, the stereo, and any appliance that does not NEED to be on. Power strips turn off several things with the flick of one switch and at the same time protects against power surges.
Use less electricity from 4-9 PM
If we use less electricity from 4-9 PM every day, we'll hit the "energy sweet spot". Energy demand is high from 4-9 PM and it's more expensive. There's also less clean energy available in the evenings. You can save money by remembering that electricity is most expensive then.
Try this:
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Wait until after 9 PM (or tomorrow morning) to do the laundry or use the dishwasher.
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Learn more at Energy Upgrade California.
Don't waste water
If we don't waste water, we'll save on both our energy and our water bills because pumping water through pipes to your faucet uses an enormous amount of energy.
Try this:
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Turn off the tap! Don't let water run.
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Use water-saving faucet aerators.
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Do most of your laundry on the "COLD" cycle.
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Run your dishwasher when it's full.
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Check your local water agency for more tips & rebates.
If we all make these small changes, it won't be just a drop in the bucket.
2. Take the next step
Make the switch to renewable energy
Using 100% renewable energy from wind and solar reduces the demand for electricity from fossil fuels. There are seven non-profit Community Choice Energy agencies (CCEs) serving all of the Bay Area, dedicated to bringing you 100% renewable electricity.
COMMUNITY CHOICE
PROGRAM
REGIONAL
UTILITY (PG&E)
YOU,
THE RATEPAYER
Are you signed up? Connect with your community's CCE using the links below, have your monthly energy bill ready, and find the program that's right for your home, school, and business. They also offer many programs to their customers besides the electricity itself.
Try this:
Sign up for 100% Renewable Energy
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MCE Clean Energy Deep Green (Marin, Contra Costa, Napa, Solano)
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Peninsula Clean Energy Eco100 (San Mateo County)
Improve energy efficiency
If we use less energy to begin with we save money on our energy bills, whether in our homes or at our work place.
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Try this:
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There are free energy upgrades and rebates from BayREN and your electricity provider to help you install smart thermostats, attic insulation, duct sealing, and pipe insulation.
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Many counties and cities, and all of our local Community Choice Energy providers have programs to assist you in making your space more comfortable year-round and more energy efficient. Find your county on our Home page.
Make a plan:
start with a free energy audit
Getting an energy audit is a great way to start your climate action plan.
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Try this:
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Renters and homeowners can request a no-cost Green House Call from Rising Sun Center for Opportunity. The visit may include switching out your existing incandescent lamps for no-cost LEDs, low flow faucets, and more. Visit their website or call (510) 665-1501, ext. 5 to schedule an appointment.
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Homeowners can also get a Home Energy Score by calling the Home Energy Advisor experts at (866) 878-6008. You'll learn how efficient similar homes are compared to yours. Each score also comes with a customized recommendation with information on measures that should be taken to improve overall efficiency.
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Businesses can take advantage of what BayREN offers. The Bay Area Regional Energy Network's no-cost, no-obligation energy assessments are an excellent place to start, and they offer no-cost technical assistance and cash rebates, as well.
Update your lighting
Replace your old lightbulbs with LEDs. They save you money because they use about 90% less energy than regular bulbs and can last up to 10 years. They're also cool to the touch, unlike older bulbs that emit heat in every direction, which makes them safer, too
LEDs come in every style, brightness, color, and appearance that mimic the older and less efficient bulbs but use a fraction of the energy.
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Try this:
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Take the mystery out of which bulb to get for your lighting needs: Energy Star LED Buying Guide.
3. Get inspired to make the switch
Make a plan
to replace your gas appliances
All gas appliances emit significant amounts of harmful gases, like methane, and they leak even when they're not on. Healthy indoor air quality is essential, especially for people who have asthma or other breathing issues.​ But replacing gas appliances - our furnaces, water heaters, clothes dryers, and stoves - that's a lot. Start by making a plan.
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Note which appliances use gas and how old they are. Try to estimate how many useable years are left. With that information you can make a replacement plan before something breaks down, instead of waiting for that emergency when an essential appliance like your furnace or water heater quits. You can prioritize your next steps and decide when to replace them - before it's an emergency.
We use our stoves every day, so let's start here:
Induction cooktops are not your father's electric stove! They use a magnetic field, so they are more energy efficient than traditional electric cooktops, and are faster and more responsive than electric OR gas stoves. Only your pans heat up, the smooth surface stays cool to the touch, and they're easy to clean, too.
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Try this:​
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Watch this induction cooktop video demonstration ->
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PG&E has an induction cooktop loaner program. All customers can try a plug-in countertop induction unit for their home or business for two weeks, at no cost.
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Not quite ready to ditch your gas stove? Start with a single hotplate, or an electric hot water pot. It's an inexpensive way to use less gas indoors, and that will improve the air you breathe, especially during the months when doors and windows remain closed.
Action spotlight
How one Contra Costa resident eliminated gas from his home
How hard is it to replace all natural gas appliances with high-efficiency electric versions powered by 100% renewable energy?
Contra Costa County resident Wei-Tai Kwok and his family took on the challenge and permanently disconnected gas from their entire home.
Electrify everything - the switch is on, Bay Area!
Inspired, but not sure where to start?
Like any new project or purchase, understanding the details is essential. The people at The Switch Is On have experts you can actually talk to: experts on water heaters, solar panels, batteries, and more. They also have information about rebates, incentives, and income-qualifying programs, and they'll help you find certified contractors.
Learn more
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Everything you need to know about retrofitting your home is in this free Pocket Guide that you can download from Sean Armstrong and the team at Redwood Energy.
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The people at Rewiring America have created extensive how-to guides for homeowners, renters, and businesses. Everything you ever wanted to know but were afraid to ask - or weren't even sure of the questions - are in these free downloadable handbooks.
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Once you know what you want to do, the next question is, "How do we pay for this?" ​Find out how much you will save with the Inflation Reduction Act incentives with Rewiring America's IRA Calculator.
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​More good news: there are numerous rebate and incentive programs available from the Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN), your utility company and your Community Choice Energy agency, as well as your county, town, or city. There are helpful lists of contractors available through BayREN, The Switch Is On, and your County's Sustainability office.
Explore more
Here are other areas that contribute the most to the Bay Area's toxic emissions. Learn what you can do next:
