Electrification Guide for Remodels

Home Insulation and Weatherproofing

Your home envelope is the barrier for temperature and pressure that surrounds your home and keeps it at a comfortable temperature year-round. It's the foundation of all other energy efficiency.

Here are some things to consider during a remodel:

Check and improve your insulation while walls and ceilings are open
Implement thorough air sealing using caulk and weather stripping
Consider drill-and-fill insulation for existing walls before repainting and moving furniture

My wife and I are both fairly pragmatic, and QuitCarbon did a very nice job of showing us for each element- here's the cost of gas, here's the cost of a heat pump, here are the incentives and rebates, whatever additional costs there were - in the context it made sense.

One other thing that's been really helpful is when we get quotes back from providers, QuitCarbon looking them over and saying, 'this is in line with what we've seen for prices elsewhere.' Having an independent auditor is a very comforting thing to know.

Electrical Planning

We strongly recommend making sure your electrical system is ready for full electrification. The good news is that it may be easier than you think!

Most California homes can fully electrify on 100 amps of main service. Studies by utilities like Peninsula Clean Energy have shown that 99% of homes analyzed never draw more than 100 amps of electric current throughout the year, and more than 80% never exceed 40 amps.

- Check out the Watt Diet for more information and contact us with any questions!
Plan for these 240-volt circuits:
- Heat pump water heater (15-30 amps)
  - Note: 120-volt, shared-circuit models are available
- Heat pump for space heating (15-40 amps)
- Induction or electric range (50 amps)
  - Alternative: Standalone oven (20-40 amps) or cooktop (40 amps)
- Electric dryer (30 amps)
- EV charger (30-60 amps)
- Solar feed-in (20-30 amps)
Run circuits or at least conduit for future electrified appliances
Replace knob-and-tube wiring if present

OAKLAND

Amy H.

Amy's main motivation to electrify her condo involved her gas stove, but after seeing our electrification plan she wanted to move forward with installing a heat pump, resealing her windows, and even doing a home energy audit.

Finding and vetting multiple contractors on her own would have been a huge pain, so we were happy to set her up with experienced contractors to handle each part of the project. We reviewed the bids to ensure they met our benchmarks and we helped Amy take advantage of generous rebates that made the upgrades more affordable than she expected.

Carbon reduction and health are my 2 motivations. I have health concerns around gas stoves- I have little kids and don't want the toxic fumes. I really enjoyed working with Ted and the team. I feel like they're my partners instead of feeling like a vendor, which is nice.

The initial "punch list" audit that was prepared by QuitCarbon of: here's what you've already done, and here's what you can do, that was extremely valuable. Equally viable is the connections to the service providers, so I don't have to go on Yelp and vet them myself.

Space Heating

Optimize your home for heat pump heating. Check out our Complete Guide to Heat Pumps for more details.

Design ductwork compatible with heat pump airflow requirements
Consider ductless options like mini-splits or ceiling cassettes
Plan outdoor unit location:
- Ground level (side of house or under deck with clearance)
- Wall-mounted
- Roof
- Balcony
Check local setback and visibility requirements
Plan for 240-volt wiring to outdoor unit and cable bundle to indoor unit(s)
Consider unitary heat pumps like Ephoca for specific layouts
- These use small wall holes and run on 120-volt power

Water Heating

We highly recommend switching to heat pump water heaters! Explore our articles on the subject.

To prepare your setup:

Ensure adequate space for the storage tank
- Can be located outdoors in mild climates (in a protective shed)
Plan for proper airflow:
- Ideal spaces: Garages, basements, utility rooms (at least 7x10x10 feet)
- Smaller spaces require ducting to the outdoors
Consider noise levels when choosing location
- Add sound insulation if near living spaces
Explore split systems for challenging spaces
Avoid tankless water heaters:
- Gas models are much worse for the environment
- Electric models require excessive power (200+ amps!)

Cooking and Clothes Drying

Cooking

Prepare your kitchen for electric cooking:

Standard induction cooktops require 240-volt circuits, which often involves new wiring and electrical breakers.
If you're replacing a gas range, we strongly recommend the new Charlie range from Copper Co. – the first to feature an integrated battery. It's currently sold out but you can still order one via QuitCarbon! Contact us for details.
- Read more here about these 120-volt, battery assisted induction ranges.

- Concerned about replacing your gas stove with a narrower electric stove? Find easy ways to fill the space gap in your kitchen.

Clothes Drying

Choose from these electric drying options:

120V combination washer-dryer unit
- These all-in-one units are popular because they take up less space and you don't have to move your clothes from the washer to the dryer.
Electric resistance dryer (240V, 30-amp circuit)
- Comparable drying time to gas models
Heat pump dryer (more efficient, eligible for rebates, but slower)
Clothesline or drying rack (zero energy option)