Residential Appliance Comparison
Overview
Residential appliances that burn natural gas or propane gas emit air pollution directly into your home or local community. Switching to electric appliances is one way to reduce your daily exposure1 . The interactive tool below allows you to compare the emissions and costs of natural gas appliances to 100% electric alternatives. In the near future, this tool will be enhanced with information regarding wood stoves. This update will also incorporate public recommendations received (submit feedback here). Over the next few years, similar tools will be developed and released as part of CARB's Technology Clearinghouse system.
Using This Tool
Use the checkboxes to select which gas2 appliances are present in your home. In each box on the right, enter the number of hours that run that appliance on a typical day. The tool will then calculate the number of miles that a car would need to travel to emit the same amount of particulate air pollution as your gas appliances.
Depending on the appliance, some of this pollution would be emitted directly into your home, while other pollution would be vented outside and into the community. Community emissions can be thought of as driving a car in your backyard and indoor emissions can be thought of as driving a car inside your home. The "Show Only Indoor" button allows you to switch between community emissions and indoor emissions.
Once you have reviewed the pollution impacts of the gas appliances in your home, scroll down to review the average costs associated with buying and installing new appliances that would reduce the pollution in your home and community. Rebates are not considered but are often available and may reduce installation costs.
The tool also estimates the monthly costs of using different appliances, based on the hours per day that you entered. Appliances with lower monthly costs can save money over time. These costs are an average estimate and actual costs will depend on location, energy prices, and specific appliance features. Low-income users may be eligible for reduced electricity rates.
For more information, please email us at: CommunityAir@arb.ca.gov.
For assistance with web accessibility, please email WebAccessibility@arb.ca.gov.
| Appliance | Fuel Type | Power Rating | Emission Factor | Utility Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Generator | Gasoline | 3.69 HP | 0.061 g/hr | - |
| Clothes Dryer | Natural Gas | 22,500 BTU | 0.79 ng/J | $1.18 /therm |
| HVAC - Heater | Natural Gas | 80,000 BTU | 1.12 ng/J | $1.18 /therm |
| Oven | Natural Gas | 16,500 BTU | 0.5 ng/J | $1.18 /therm |
| Stove | Natural Gas | 7,500 BTU | 0.41 ng/J | $1.18 /therm |
| Water Heater | Natural Gas | 35,000 BTU | 0.79 ng/J | $1.18 /therm |
| Clothes Dryer | Electricity | 3 kW | - | $0.21 /kW-hr |
| HVAC - Heater | Electricity | 10.5 kW | - | $0.21 /kW-hr |
| Oven | Electricity | 2.3 kW | - | $0.21 /kW-hr |
| Stove | Electricity | 1.2 kW | - | $0.21 /kW-hr |
| Water Heater | Electricity | 3.8 kW | - | $0.21 /kW-hr |
Vehicle: Fleet Statewide Passenger Car Light Duty Vehicle with aggregated speeds and model year. Emission Factor: 0.0015 g/mile.
New appliance cost data from EIA, NCCE, and E3.
Electric appliances are assumed to emit zero local emissions.
California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) and the Family Electric Rate Assistance Program (FERA)
Low-income customers that are enrolled in the CARE program receive a 30-35 percent discount on their electric bill and a 20 percent discount on their natural gas bill. Families whose household income slightly exceeds the CARE allowances will qualify to receive FERA discounts, which bills applies a 18% discount on their electricity bill. FERA is available for customers of Southern California Edison, San Diego Gas and Electric Company, and Pacific Gas and Electric Company.
Technology and Equipment for Clean Heating (TECH)
$120 Million Total - $30 Million Annually
Aims to jump start the market for low-emissions space and water heating technologies by working “upstream” with manufacturers, distributors, and vendors; and through consumer education and contractor training. Switching to highly efficient electric heat pumps, for example, is imperative to meeting the state's climate goals, as about 90 percent of California's furnaces and water heaters currently run on gas or propane. TECH will be run by a statewide third-party implementer, to be selected through a competitive process.
Building Initiative for Low Emissions Development (BUILD)
$80 Million Total - $20 Million Annually
Dedicated to new all-electric housing that has lower emissions than buildings fueled with fossil gas (a.k.a. natural gas). The program can incentivize any combination of measures, including heat pumps, energy efficiency, demand response (compensating customers for moving their energy use to a different time when emissions are lower), storage, or solar beyond what is required by code. BUILD will be primarily focused on housing for low-income families, with a minimum of 75 percent of these funds set aside for low-income projects and active technical assistance provided to low-income housing developers. The California Energy Commission will administer BUILD, which leverages the commission’s expertise in overseeing the energy code for new buildings.
Low-Income Weatherization Program (LIWP)
$212 Million Total
Administered by the California Department of Community Services and Development (CSD), LIWP is designed with the primary goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by saving energy and generating clean renewable power. But just as importantly, the program reduces residential energy expenses for low-income households, strengthening their economic security. LIWP funds energy efficiency upgrades and solar for both low-income single-family households and multi-family affordable housing.
Open PACE
Link to CSCDA's Open PACE program, a turnkey resource for residential and commercial property owners to finance energy efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation and seismic improvements (Property Assessed Clean Energy). CSCDA developed qualification criteria to select PACE Program Administrators to be included in the CSCDA Open PACE platform.
Funding Wizard
Find grants and incentives for sustainability projects.
Go Green
Your go to guide for sustainable living and green news around the world.
The Switch Is On
The Switch Is On is a collaborative campaign to support home electrification by providing tools, support, and resources to Californians.
Energy Upgrade California
The Energy Upgrade California Community is the online home for organizations throughout California that have joined the Keep It Golden™ movement. Each organization, business, and group is united in its commitment to support California as we work together to double our state’s energy efficiency.
Rewiring America
Rewiring America explains the benefits of electrification in terms of cost savings, emissions reductions, and jobs created.
AVoided Emissions and geneRation Tool (AVERT)
AVERT is a free tool with a simple user interface designed to meet the needs of state air quality planners and other interested stakeholders. Non-experts can use AVERT to evaluate county, state and regional emissions displaced at fossil-fueled power plants by EE/RE policies and programs.
Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program - Community Edition (BenMAP-CE)
BenMAP-CE is an open-source computer program that calculates the number and economic value of air pollution-related deaths and illnesses.
In the News
An EPA fix for pollution-spewing wood stoves is backfiringA Popular Science article - published March 7, 2022.