How to Go All-Electric as a Renter
The all-electric life isn’t just for homeowners. Renters have many options to use electricity instead of natural gas too.
Leslie Park has learned that from experience. She works as a Senior Decarbonization Programs Specialist for San José Clean Energy and leads the development of the building energy efficiency and building electrification programs. She knows the value of converting gas appliances and systems to electricity.
Leslie and her husband Austin rent a unit with a gas stovetop and oven, gas water heater and wall furnace. They also drive electric vehicles (EVs). The pair worked with their landlords to incorporate more electric options into their home, including installing an EV charger. While not all ideas were feasible, they still were able to make some impactful changes.
Below are some ideas on how to convert from gas to electricity while renting and a look at how Leslie and Austin implemented them.
Make changes on your own. If your rental unit comes with a gas stove and oven, try portable plug-in units. Leslie and Austin use an induction burner and toaster oven for most of their cooking. These items are much less expensive than switching out the oven and stovetop, and they can travel with you if you move.
They also drive EVs. If your rental unit does not have a place to charge, public charging spots are becoming more and more common. That also leads into our next point:
Work with your landlord. If you see some changes that could make your unit safer, healthier, and more efficient – all of which the switch to electric can do – talk to your landlord about it. These changes can include installing an induction stove in the place of a gas one, changing to an all-electric heat pump instead of using a gas water heater or furnace, and installing a Level 2 (220-240-volt) EV charger.
Leslie and Austin did just that. While the stovetop and oven switch weren’t on the table, they did discuss making the change to a heat pump. However, the existing water heater and wall furnace are not close to the end of their lives, so it didn’t make economic sense for the landlord to change them out now.
But the landlords did agree to installing an EV charger. The landlords installed the outlet, while Leslie and Austin purchased the charger. If they move, they’ll take the charger with them.
The important thing when working to make these changes in your rental unit is to have the information to answer basic questions and to approach it as a negotiation. If you’re looking for help, Rewiring America has ideas and templates for pursuing these changes.
