SEPTEMBER 29, 2023
The Building Electrification initiative aims to eliminate fossil fuel use in American buildings, targeting what experts identify as a critical but overlooked source of greenhouse gas emissions. Launched by Bruce Nilles (Awardee 2018) through the Climate Breakthrough Award program, this effort seeks to transform how 70 million homes and businesses across the United States power their heating, cooking, and other energy needs, transitioning from natural gas and other fossil fuels to clean electricity.
The Challenge
While the US has made significant progress in reducing coal use in power generation, natural gas consumption continues to rise, particularly in buildings. The numbers are stark: buildings generate approximately 550 million tons of carbon dioxide annually—roughly 10% of the country’s total CO2 emissions. When accounting for methane leaks throughout the gas distribution system, the climate impact nearly doubles to about 15-20% of total US emissions.
The health implications are equally concerning. A Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory study found that 60% of California homes using gas stoves at least weekly experience pollutant levels that would be illegal outdoors. Building-related air pollution causes an estimated $32 billion in annual health care costs and contributes to nearly 4,000 premature deaths yearly.
The Initiative
Building Electrification, managed at the Rocky Mountain Insitute, takes a comprehensive approach to tackling this challenge. The initiative aims to secure $100 million in philanthropic support over five years to drive systematic change across the building sector.
The strategy will operate on multiple fronts. First, they will build a national network of allies, including environmental organizations, health advocates, and policy experts. This coalition aims to implement bans on gas use in new buildings across states representing half of the US population within three years. Second, the initiative will focus on developing open-source data and analytics to track progress and inform policy decisions. This includes creating detailed emissions tracking systems for states and major cities, replacing outdated federal data that often lags by years. Third, the initiative will seek to work directly with states, cities, and corporations to develop and implement gas-free roadmaps. This includes providing technical expertise, economic analysis, and policy guidance to ensure successful transition strategies.
The Vision
This new effort sets ambitious targets, including implementing or proposing bans on new gas-using buildings in states representing half the US population. They will target programs and policies that will enable the electrification of upward of one million buildings annually starting in 2025.
Success would mean transforming building energy use in a way that parallels the transition away from coal in the power sector. The initiative envisions a future where all new construction is all-electric, and existing gas appliances are systematically replaced with electric alternatives at the end of their useful life—a process that could be completed within 10-20 years, the typical lifespan of most gas appliances.
This transformation would not only address climate change but also improve public health by eliminating a major source of indoor and outdoor air pollution. Particularly for communities of color and low-income families, who are disproportionately impacted by air pollution, this transition could help address long-standing environmental justice issues while creating new economic opportunities across the country.