Electrify Virginia
End the use of dirty and dangerous fossil fuels for water heating, space heating, and cooking in our buildings, which account for over 50% of carbon emissions
The movement to create cleaner, healthier, all-electric new homes and buildings is lighting up the country. More than 100 state and local governments have policies to phase out gas and switch to all-electric new buildings instead. We’ve been working to pass legislation regionally and educate nationally.
CCAN has a bold vision to electrify every building in the country! Building electrification would benefit community members by giving them access to cleaner air, healthier homes, good jobs, affordable clean energy, and energy efficiency to reduce monthly energy bills, all while lowering our country’s greenhouse gas emissions. In order to achieve a clean, sustainable future, we must #ElectrifyEverything!
2-pronged approach
Legislation
Our advocacy arm, CCAN Action Fund, has already successfully passed bills to electrify new buildings in Montgomery County and Howard County. Now we’re setting our sights on localities in Virginia, Baltimore County, and Washington, DC.
Education
Recent federal climate legislation included a LOT of new resources and benefits for homeowners to go electric. We’re holding events around the country to educate residents on how to make the most of these new rebates, tax incentives, and more. Learn more here.
Active Campaigns
The Northern Virginia “New Leaf” Action Team is gearing up to support electrification!
Right now, team members are canvassing residents and businesses in northern Virginia to take the pledge to “plug in” to the electrification movement.
EXPLORE THE BENEFITS OF ELECTRIFICATION
Fossil Fuels are Dirty and Dangerous
Homes with gas stoves have nitrogen dioxide concentrations up to…
higher than homes with electric stoves!
Gas stoves release the same pollution as an idling car!
Living in a home with a gas stove increases a child’s risk of having asthma by
Did You Know?
Gas stoves are a primary source of combustion pollution inside the home, producing dangerous levels of air pollutants that would violate outdoor standards!
Good For the Climate:
- To achieve the nation’s climate goals, buildings must meet their heating, cooling, and cooking demands with electricity instead of fossil fuels such as gas, oil, and propane.
- In addition to the direct greenhouse gas emissions produced from burning gas in furnaces and stoves, the gas also leaks as it makes its way from fracking wells into buildings and homes.
- Worst of all, for 20 years after it is released, methane is 86 times more powerful a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide!
Good for your Health:
Gas stoves are a Primary Source of Pollution Inside the Home
- .Gas stoves release several hazardous pollutants, notably nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide.
- Any exposure to nitrogen dioxide can cause respiratory effects.
- Lower-income households may be at higher risk of exposure to gas stove pollution.
- Gas stoves leak climate-warming methane even when they’re off.
Good for the Economy:
Electrification is affordable: All-electric buildings are generally cheaper to build and lead to lower, more stable energy bills.
- Highly efficient and effective electric appliances are readily available to meet the heating, cooling, and cooking demands of our new buildings.
- All-electric new construction is more affordable to build in most cases and generally more affordable to maintain than buildings that use fossil fuels.
- All-electric new buildings typically have the lowest construction and operating costs.
Educational Resources:
Key articles:
- Electrified rail is the future. Is Virginia all aboard? – Virginia Mercury
- The gas stove culture wars come to Virginia – Virginia Mercury