Daily Camera Guest Opinion by Board Members Sasha Stiles, Harv Teitelbaum: Marshall Fire rebuilding should be forward-thinking

By DAILY CAMERA GUEST OPINION | openforum@dailycamera.com | Boulder Daily Camera

July 7, 2022 at 6:00 a.m.

The Marshall Fire brought seemingly insurmountable pain and difficulties to those who lost their homes. It is understandable that some are relieved not to have to rebuild to the latest sustainable standards, and to be able to continue using methane (aka “natural”) gas-burning appliances.

Others may be aware of the oil and gas industry campaign to spread disinformation about all-electric rebuilding costs, perhaps having read exposés on the industry front group Coloradans for Energy Access by Colorado Public Radio or Desmog.

And while forward-thinking, clean energy building codes have been suspended for the fire area, residents can still choose to reap the many benefits of a healthy, electric home. What are some of those benefits?

Lower initial costs: Rebuilding all-electric with heat pumps and induction stoves can cost less than a methane gas home. New homes with methane gas appliances and a separate A/C system need gas infrastructure throughout, along with flues and venting systems to prevent gas-related carbon monoxide poisoning. All-electric homes’ cold-climate heat pump systems also provide A/C and have their own electric back-up, so no methane infrastructure, service or gas backup is needed. Plus there are many heat pump rebates and incentives available to further lower the overall expense.

Ongoing low energy costs: As gas prices spike with supply, climate and geopolitical instability, the cost of running a highly efficient electric home is expected to remain low and more stable than gas.

Improved health: An abundance of peer-reviewed studies shows that using methane gas for cooking and heating releases breathable toxics that can cause or worsen many illnesses and diseases, including asthma, cancer, death and more. Switching to a healthy electric home reduces these health threats and their associated financial and emotional burdens.

Climate change mitigation: We have the home tech solutions right now to help mitigate some of the worst effects of climate change and reduce the future likelihood of such catastrophes as the Marshall Fire. We no longer need to burn the greenhouse gas methane in our homes, a fossil fuel with 80 times the global warming impact of CO2 over a 20-year period.

International Conflict: Petro-state dictators rely on the huge international demand for fossil fuels to finance their military assaults and line their and their cronies’ pockets. Cutting off their fossil-fuel revenue pipelines can lower the risk of military adventurism and its attendant human suffering.

Energy independence and security: We now know that trying to drill and frack our way to energy independence and security only feeds our fossil fuel dependence, delaying society’s urgent and necessary transition to renewable energy, and corrupting our democracy. Energy independence and security will only come from freeing ourselves of our fossil fuel addiction.

Home market values: As our society moves away from polluting, expensive, climate and health-harming fossil fuels, methane gas homes will become more and more unattractive and undesirable relics of the past. Healthy electric homes, conversely, will be seen as more desirable, commanding higher home prices.

Please go to HealthyElectricHomes.org for more information and to see a list of HVAC contractors who would be eager to discuss the possibilities of an electric home with you. Thank you.

Sasha Stiles is on the board of Physicians for Social Responsibility, Colorado. Stiles lives in Superior.
Harv Teitelbaum is on the board of Physicians for Social Responsibility, Colorado.