Natural gas is an inexpensive way to get BTUs and is a “relatively” clean burning fuel. That is why so many people use it for heating, cooking, heating water, and drying clothes.
For all its benefits, I don’t think gas is going to be the next big thing. Even though we are fractionating, which is a problem in itself, I think the gas is lost.
Today, 75% of the energy to power homes is created by burning fossil fuels. It is delivered to our homes in the form of electricity and natural gas or oil. Burning fossil fuels contributes to climate change and is not a long-term sustainable solution. So where does that leave us? Nuclear and renewables. Nuclear power has problems, see fukushima. Renewables are the only thing left that makes any sense.
The good news is that renewable energy is part of the obvious solution to climate change, and the addition of renewable energy to homes is now happening at a faster rate than most predicted.
If we all had power generating stations in our homes, electricity would be the clean solution for our climate. Interestingly, it is currently one of the dirtiest solutions because most electricity is created from coal, but if we add photovoltaic or wind generation to our homes, the energy mix would change and electricity would become a good option. .
This is my prediction: the houses of the future will be all electric.
It’s going to be the law of the land that homes will have to be more energy efficient. Remember when we didn’t have airbags in cars, this is how we are now with homes. We have the technology to build much better today, but no one says we need to, so it’s business as usual.
The 2012 International Energy Code has begun to increase the required efficiency of buildings by increasing airtightness and insulation requirements for homes. Each successive version of the code will increase the energy efficiency of buildings.
Airtight and well insulated houses
As homes become more cramped and comfortable, it will take significantly less energy to heat a space and keep it comfortable. It will certainly take some energy, but just a sip rather than a gulp. Gas and oil have been the preferred heat sources because they are more affordable. With lower demand, the financial incentives to add gas and/or oil to our homes won’t be as great.
combustion appliances
In an airtight home, fuel-burning appliances can add pollutants like carbon monoxide to the air. The reason this is a problem in an airtight home is because pressures within the home are less likely to diffuse through leaks. In a leaky house, bathroom ventilation isn’t a big deal. In a cramped home, it can cause negative pressure and interfere with the natural airflow of a combustion appliance. This leads to something called backdraft, and it can spew or spill bad things like carbon monoxide into your home. Since carbon monoxide can kill you, this really isn’t a good thing.
It is possible to design an airtight home with sealed combustion appliances, but because there is no guarantee that appliances will always work flawlessly and safely, architects and designers will think twice before including them in a home.
Cooking
Cooking is probably the main reason people love gas. Gas is much more responsive than a traditional electric stove. Guess what, there is the induction cooker which is a favorite of chefs because it cooks fast and is very responsive. Induction cooktops are expensive, but the other side of the coin is that they are very cheap to run. The only downside is that you have to use steel or stainless steel pans, if you can stick a magnet to it you can use that.
drying clothes
There are electric dryers, gas dryers, condenser dryers and clotheslines. Alternatives to a gas dryer are electric and condenser dryers. Condenser dryers make the most sense in a high-efficiency home, because they are ventless and don’t have a practical path to the outside for heat and cold to travel. Some get a bad rap because clothes can come out wrinkled. An electric dryer that is not located in the building envelope and complemented by a clothes horse is another alternative.
water heating
The power of the sun can be harnessed to heat water directly or to generate electricity to run an efficient water heater such as a heat pump water heater.
keeping it simple
Gas needs pipes and electricity needs wires. One system is simpler than two, and since electricity can do everything, there is no need for two systems. Simplifying a system means paying one bill instead of two bills each month.
Renewable energy
When the demand for energy decreases, it makes sense to think about renewable energy. Renewable energy is becoming more affordable, but it is still a big expense. It is much less expensive to add 2kW to your home than 10kW.
zero net energy
An all-electric home can be a net zero energy home, one that produces as much (or more) energy as it uses over the course of the year. Theoretically, you could still have gas and net zero power by generating enough electricity to offset your gas usage. It wouldn’t benefit you financially though, so where’s the incentive? Admit it, we’re much more likely to get to net zero if we see the financial sense in it.
Electric cars
Electric cars aren’t our vehicles of choice yet, but I think they will be. One idea of the future “smart” grid is that we will use our electric cars as battery storage for the grid, modulating the dips and providing a more stable flow of power. An electric house with PV on the roof and an electric car in the garage is a good circuit. Charge the car at night with cheap excess power from the grid, plug in the car during the day when you’re at work and add some to the grid when needed and use some when not needed.
Electric houses were predicted to be the wave of the future in the 1930s for very different reasons. Then, it had to do with all the new inventions that were heading our way. We were all going to live like the Jetsons. Now more than ever we want to simplify and maybe live more like people did in the 1930s.
We have all this great technology that allows us to build comfortable houses that produce as much energy as we use, and we can do it all with electricity. No need for dual systems, no need for complications. It will be easier, smarter and cleaner just make it electric.