Answer
Sep 19, 2020 - 05:27 AM
There are several reasons for switching to electric heat:
1. The environmental costs of producing cheap gas, which is generated mostly by the method called fracking, are high. These costs include groundwater contamination, instability of soil and earthquakes, and damage to nearby houses near the fracking sites. The price of gas you use for heating does not include such costs, which is why it is cheaper than electricity. About 40% of the electricity produced on the New England electricity grid is from non-fossil fuel sources such as solar, hydro, wind, and nuclear energy. State policies in New England will result in minimal fossil fuel used to generate electricity over the next two decades. As a result, the electric grid will be powered by cleaner resources, making electricity much cleaner than natural gas, both in terms of greenhouse gases and the pollutants that cause lung and other health problems.
2. There are leaks of methane gas (the chemical name for natural gas) during production and distribution. Methane is 30 times more potent than carbon dioxide in its contribution to climate change. It also is dangerous because it may lead to explosions and fires.
3. Over the 15 to 25 year life of your system, the costs of natural gas and electricity will change. If you believe that the cost of gas will increase due to climate regulation or other factors, then it might make sense to spend more in the short term as you could save money in the long term.
