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As a renter, it may seem complicated to transition from using gas-powered devices to electric ones without the help of your landlord. But a panel of experts, including local green energy nonprofit Menlo Spark, joined together this week to share ways renters can invest in energy-efficient devices, which actually tend to be portable, allowing you to take them with you when you move.
The panel featured Angela Evans, Menlo Spark’s director of electrification, along with Brian Stewart and Joe Wachunas of Electrify Now, a nonprofit that helps consumers understand the benefits of electrification.
During a webinar on Wednesday, May 21, Evans encouraged house and apartment renters to contact the property management staff to convince them to convert their units to electric. She also urged people to approach property managers before replacing gas-powered systems, either due to old age or new regulations.
“Property management staff can often have substantial influence over appliance research and then the building owner can then sign off on it,” she said.
She recounted how a local public official let Menlo Spark know that one of its large public housing apartments in the city was about to replace its declining gas boiler system, which provided water and space heating for about 80-plus units.
“We found out too late,” she said.
By the time the organization reached out, permits had been filed and equipment ordered. Even though she and her partners demonstrated that a heat pump system would have been more cost-effective and provided future cooling benefits, the project had already gained too much momentum to reverse course, she said.
See the panel’s list of other tips below:
Electric vehicles
Stewart, who co-founded Electrify Now, said one obstacle for renters buying electric vehicles is that they may not be able to charge their cars at home, whereas a homeowner can decide to install their own EV charger.
But the infrastructure for EV chargers is growing. Level 3 fast chargers are being installed at shopping centers and other locations, he noted.
“If you have a car, you’re a candidate for an EV,” he said. “The question is more about charging. It’s a lot easier to charge than most people think.”
Expanding the market for EVs still requires “a robust network of charging stations at homes and along public roadways,” Stanford University researchers said in a 2024 paper.
There have been some recent setbacks for the expansion of EVs in California, though. The Senate voted on Thursday, May 22, to block the state’s upcoming ban on the sale of gas-powered vehicles by 2035. Experts say Congress likely misused a federal law to revoke a waiver the Environmental Protection Agency granted the state.
Stewart noted that EVs are lower maintenance and owners should expect about $1,000 of operating savings a year.
Cooking
Wachunas noted that switching to electric or induction cooking devices — induction uses electricity to create a magnetic field that heats cookware directly, rather than using a flame or radiant heat — increases home safety.
With induction, you can avoid exposure to carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, benzene and methane emissions, which studies have shown gas stoves emit, resulting in increased chances of childhood asthma and other health effects.
Stewart recommended induction hot plates, electric kettles, toaster ovens and air fryers as alternatives to gas stove tops and ovens.
“Air fryers are really interesting because if you think about your oven … most of the time when you’re cooking you’ve got something relatively small in this big space,” he noted. “Unless you’re having all your friends over for Thanksgiving you’re not really utilizing the whole oven most of the time so these small little air fryers are amazing. You can cook quickly and efficiently right on your countertop and not use your gas oven.”
You can also try out an induction hot plate by renting one from the San Mateo County Libraries.
Options:
- IKEA’s $60 portable induction cooktop
- Hamilton Beach’s steel kettle, which runs as low as $33. Wirecutter provides a list of the best options on its website.
- Hamilton Beach’s 4-Slice Toaster Oven for $55. More Wirecutter picks here.
You can ask your landlord to swap out your gas range for an induction range. They run at about $1,000, and some may require wiring upgrades (to a 240V circuit, which older homes tend not to have), which may add to the costs. There are some home energy rebates available through the Inflation Reduction Act, which the panelists said will run through 2025, but it’s unclear if they will continue into 2026 under the Trump administration.
One thing to remember about induction is that it is only compatible with stainless steel, cast iron or ceramic cookware, not with copper and aluminum pots and pans.
Laundry
Laundry accounts for about 8-10% of the energy used in a home, according to Wachunas.
Combination washers and heat pump dryers can be a great option for renters because they can be taken with them if they move.
“They cost around $2,000 so (it’s) a little bit more expensive, but you do all your washing and drying in one unit,” he said. “I just got one of these and I put my electricity reader on the outlet and it uses less than a kilowatt hour to wash and dry an entire load of laundry — it’s incredible.”
Yardwork
Many Peninsula cities have banned gas-powered yard tools due to noise and pollution. Steward noted that electric tools are not only quieter but also more efficient.
“They’re way cheaper to operate,” Stewart said. “Talking about pennies per hour versus dollars per hour, and of course there’s no maintenance — no spark plugs, there is no refueling, no filters to clean; all that stuff which is such a hassle with gas-powered tools.”
Heating and cooling
Stewart noted that space heating is one of the best things you can do to reduce your use of gas.
They can be installed into windows and heat or cool one or two rooms at a time. There are some restrictions on renters mounting them on the windows, but there are portable options that allow the entire device to be inside the home.
Options:
More information on room heat pumps can be found here.
Clean electricity
The panelists recommended that residents sign up for Community Choice Aggregation, a program in which cities or counties purchase electricity (often renewable) on behalf of their residents and businesses. In San Mateo County, Peninsula Clean Energy offers such an option.
PG&E also offers Green Saver programs to help lower-income residential customers save 20% on their electricity bill by subscribing to 100% solar energy.
Watch a recording of the session on YouTube:
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