Electrification For Renters
Renters, you’re in the right place!
You don’t have to own your home to go electric! Here are things for you to consider to upgrade your ride, your kitchen, and your power.
1. Go Electric on Your Own
As a renter, it’s hard to fully electrify without your landlord’s help. But there are several things you can do on your own. Here are a few to get you started:
Buy a new or used EV
Buying an EV can save you thousands of dollars on fuel, and cut your carbon pollution significantly. The average household can save between $1,285 and $1,980 per year by switching to an electric vehicle.
Check out local Rogue Valley car dealers and options online. Platt Auto in Portland has a wide selection of used EVs.
Buy a new or used bike or electric bike
Bikes and electric bikes are much more affordable than cars. If it fits your work and life needs, consider a bike. The City of Ashland offers rebates for both e-bikes and cargo e-bikes. Check out the rebates.
Borrow a car when needed
Did you know that Ashland has a carshare program? That’s right. Thanks to Forth, there is a loaner electric car available to use via the app. It’s parked at the electric charging station downtown (next to Pony Espresso).
Thanks to the City of Ashland, we have FREE public chargers sprinkled around town.
Use a portable heat pump
Yes, they make portable heat pumps that both heat and cool! These cost around $500 – $700, can be vented through a window, and you can take it with you if you move! Great for the summer heat.
Get a portable induction cooktop
With small-but-mighty countertop appliances like induction hot plates, you can enjoy the health, environmental, and culinary benefits of cooking without gas. Try out a portable induction cooktop by checking one out from the Jackson County Library of Things.
Buy a small portable induction cooktop. These units cost between $55 and $160, but the least expensive units may make a buzzing sound and not perform as well. Be sure to use the right kind of cookware. Cast iron, enameled cast iron, and many types of stainless-steel cookware are all induction-compatible.
Use electric appliances rather than gas
Whenever possible, use an electric kitchen appliance rather than your gas stove. Choose an Instapot, an electric tea kettle, an electric rice cooker, or any other electric option you can get your hands on.
Cut your energy bill with community solar
Community solar programs make it possible to tap into most of the amazing benefits of solar without installing a single panel on your roof. Community solar subscriptions enable renters to support local clean energy projects.
Many renters can save 5 to 15 percent off their utility bills each month by signing up for community solar.
Check out the Ashland Solar Co-op to find out how you might benefit from becoming a subscriber.
2. Talk to Your Landlord
Going electric is great for landlords. Yours might not know that.
Talking to the person who owns your home isn’t always easy. But the most important first step to encourage your landlord to electrify your building is to start a conversation.
The good news? You get to be the one to tell them about the hundreds of billions of dollars in incentives available — mostly to homeowners — to help make American homes more energy-efficient and climate-friendly.
Incentive programs for renters
How much will you save? There are many savings programs for energy-efficient appliances and upgrades. To estimate your savings, check out this calculator from the Energy Hub for Incentive Programs and Projects in Oregon.
Just enter your zip code and household info to see savings.
Key Points
Electrification makes buildings cheaper to operate. The average household can save $650 per year using electric appliances instead of fossil fuel alternatives, a Rewiring America analysis showed.
Electrification raises a building’s value. Installing a heat pump can increase the value of a home by up to 7 percent, according to one study.
Electrification is better for the planet. Natural gas usage in our buildings is a driver of climate change. Energy use in buildings is the source of about one-third of all U.S. emissions. Electrification is necessary to decrease greenhouse gas emissions and protect our shared climate.
Electrification protects your health. Gas appliances worsen indoor air quality and release dangerous pollutants — even when those appliances are not in use. More than 12 percent of all childhood asthma cases can be linked to the use of a gas stove, a recent study found.
Jackpot of information
The Rewiring America website is LOADED with information to help renters talk with their landlords. Check out their email template, list of rebates, and more.
3. Learn and Help Others
The most important voice in electrification is yours. Rewiring America courses can give you the confidence to use it.
Why Electrify course
Rewiring America offers a free 101 course that breaks down what “electrify everything” actually means.
Learn how electrification helps people save money, stay healthier, build stronger communities, and tackle climate goals.
Past students have called it a “marvelous workshop,” “great intro to the topic,“ and “really valuable.”
Electric Coaches program
A free, four-week training and certification program powered by Rewiring America & Abode Energy Management.
Enhance your technical electrification knowledge and communication and advocacy tactics.
Learn how to help others as they transition away from fossil fuels.
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