MADISON, WI–Rewiring America is highlighting the positive benefits of electrification with a new report that calculates the energy savings, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and air quality improvements that could be possible if every American household transitioned to efficient electric appliances.
Space heating, water heating, and clothes drying appliances powered by oil and gas are used by approximately two-thirds of American households. These appliances contribute to more than half a million tons of fine particulate matter outdoors each year–dangerous pollution that can cause adverse health effects like asthma and other respiratory issues, heart attacks, and even premature death, especially in vulnerable populations like babies and children, seniors, and historically-marginalized communities.
Rewiring America’s study, which used building energy modeling, open-source data on air pollutants, and air quality modeling, found that updating appliances powered by burning fossil fuels with heat pump technology would improve outdoor air quality while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 400 million metric tons, cutting energy bills by $60 billion every year, and creating more than one million jobs.
“Rewiring America’s research captures the imagination of what’s possible when we think big about how a just climate transition can benefit every American household,” said Forward Together Wisconsin President Mandela Barnes. “It’s another proofpoint that making the sustainable attainable is good for the economy, good for the environment, and good for public health. Widespread electrification won’t happen overnight but we’re already seeing progress thanks to energy efficiency programs funded by the Inflation Reduction Act.”
The study’s main findings included:
- Electrifying America’s households would lead to 3,400 fewer premature deaths, 1,300 fewer hospital admissions and ER visits, 220,000 fewer asthma attacks, and 670,000 fewer days of reduced activity or missed workfor Americans each year. These improved health outcomes resulting from household electrification translate to about $40 billion in health benefits every year.
- Household electrification, combined with an electricity grid that is continuously getting cleaner, will reduce total pollution from fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and its precursors by 300,000 tons a year — the equivalent of taking 40 million cars off the road.
- By making investments in residential electrification and passing policies that make it easier for households to choose these electric appliances, especially for households in disadvantaged and low- to moderate-income communities, policymakers can improve community health and reduce outdoor air pollution, in addition to reducing energy bills and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
Read the report here.
