1. Americans burn much less fossil fuel in their homes and use more electricity compared to 50 years ago, leading to a trend of electrification.
2. The use of electric appliances has increased in homes, leading to a decrease in natural gas usage and a decline in the use of propane and fuel oil.
3. The trend towards an all-electric future in American homes is driven by increased efficiency of electric appliances, cost considerations, and environmental benefits of using electricity over fossil fuels.
American homes have been steadily electrifying over the past five decades, with per capita fossil fuel consumption decreasing by 55% and electricity use increasing by 90% since the early 70s. This shift towards more electricity and less fossil fuels has been driven by the increased presence of electric appliances in households, which have become significantly more efficient. The use of natural gas in homes has also declined, with per capita gas use falling by almost 40% over the last 50 years. This trend can be attributed to factors such as improved energy efficiency in gas appliances, better insulation in homes, and a shift towards using electricity for heating purposes.
Propane and fuel oil, once common sources of household heating, have also seen a significant decline in usage due to cost factors and the availability of more cost-effective alternatives like natural gas and heat pumps. As a result, American homes are on the path towards an all-electric future, with a lower reliance on polluting fossil fuels. This trend towards electrification and increased energy efficiency in homes has been occurring long before the recent push to “Electrify Everything” as a strategy to combat the climate crisis.