Renters of course don’t have as much control over the electrification of their homes as homeowners do. However, there are still several impactful steps renters can take to reduce their use of fossil fuels:
Buy 100% renewable electricity from your local Community Choice Aggregator. You may need to talk to your landlord if they are the account holder for the utility bill or if the electric meter serves more than one unit in your building.
Reduce your energy use by:
Signing up for SDGE’s Home Energy Savings Kit, which includes LED light bulbs, faucet aerators, shower heads, and a toilet tank bank
Air-drying your clothes (a space-efficient drying rack helps)
If your home has a gas stove/oven, and you have sufficient counter and storage space, add electric appliances to your kitchen:
Electric kettles, air fryers, toaster ovens, rice cookers, and slow/pressure cookers can all reduce your use of gas for cooking
You can also consider purchasing a portable induction cooktop (but note that these should not be placed on top of existing gas stoves). Induction cooktops only work with pans/pots that have a magnetic bottom. See if a magnet sticks to the bottom of your pans.
If your home has a gas furnace, you could consider purchasing a portable standalone heat pump (see Room Heat Pumps). Rebates may be available.
If your clothes dryer uses gas and you have the space, you might purchase a ventless electric washer/dryer combo.
For some renters, it may be possible to buy a new or used electric vehicle. While most rental properties do not include EV charging, the number of public EV charging stations around San Diego County is growing. In addition, under California’s right-to-charge law, renters can install EV chargers in their designated parking spaces if they cover the installation and maintenance costs. Depending upon your commute, you might consider an electric bike.
Sign up for OhmConnect to get rewarded to save energy during critical hours.
Finally, renters can speak to their landlords about electrifying their buildings. While landlords often pass on the cost of utilities to their renters, they can still save money when replacing large appliances by taking advantage of the numerous federal and state incentives available for going electric.
The Switch is On has compiled a list of state and local rebate programs available in California. Many of the rebates are specifically for multifamily buildings with units that are home to low- or middle-income families or are in disadvantaged communities. There are potentially several thousands of dollars in rebates available for electric panel upgrades, electric cooktop installation, electric wiring, heat pumps, etc.
Rewiring America shares helpful advice on how to speak with your landlord about going electric and a Renter Checklist.
Check out this site for A Renter's Guide to Electrification. The Switch is On has also published Electrification for Renters.