“Hi, I’d like to cancel my service.” With that anticlimactic phone call, our family cut off the last pipe bringing fossil fuels into our home. After years of effort, our 1980s ranch is now fully electrified and on track to become net zero.

Our approach followed three simple tenets: (1) electricity is the fastest path to clean energy, (2) switch everything to efficient electric technologies, and (3) power them with renewables, ideally rooftop solar.

We began in 2012 by replacing an old gas furnace with ductless heat pumps, which heat and cool our home far more efficiently. Later, we swapped our gas water heater for a heat pump version, cutting energy use by up to 75%. Enthusiastic about these results, we added both systems to our garage apartment. heating.

In the kitchen, we replaced our gas stove with an induction cooktop—faster, safer, and far more efficient. Transportation came next: in 2017 we bought an electric car, saving thousands on fuel and maintenance while enjoying the satisfaction of charging it with our own solar.

Efficiency has been just as important as electrification. We line-dry clothes, use LEDs, take advantage of cross-breezes, and wash with cold water. As a result, our property—with three households including tenants and Airbnb guests—uses just 22% of the energy of the average American, per person.

Finally, we invested in rooftop solar: 39 panels across three systems installed over 13 years.

Our journey proves that a middle-class family can reach carbon neutrality without sacrificing comfort—or breaking the bank. Each step was taken as old appliances wore out, replacing them with efficient electric alternatives. If we can do it, so can you.