Sam Calisch has electrification bona fides. There’s the MIT engineering degree, the years spent in a lab tinkering with electromagnetic devices and his time on Capitol Hill as a scientist-turned-advocate, successfully campaigning for the inclusion of historic climate measures in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.
So why is his new gig all about the humble kitchen stove? Because, Calisch says, he sees an opportunity in the home appliance sector to make a direct, tangible impact in arresting climate change.
“About five years ago I had a realization that the [climate] technology we have is already pretty awesome,” Calisch, a resident of the San Francisco Bay area, says. “What we really need are tools for deploying it.”
So in 2022, Calisch founded Copper, a company that makes a battery-powered induction stove, which is a technology that uses electromagnetism to heat up its elements, instead of the combustion of fossil fuels. Climate experts say it’s essential to make such electric-powered home appliances the norm over the next several decades, with homeowners swapping them in as their old gas-powered models break down. In most homes, there are a “big four” of appliances that must be converted: the kitchen stove, the water heater, the clothes dryer and the HVAC system.
Conversion to these technologies comes with significant benefits, of which reducing greenhouse gas emissions is only one. Owners will also experience improved indoor air quality; recent studies have found that gas stoves release levels of benzene, a carcinogen, comparable to those found in secondhand smoke. Electric models also often provide a better user experience, advocates say, offering quieter operation, more precise temperature control and safety features. Induction stove heating elements, for example, are immediately cool to the touch after use. And let’s not forget the promise of lower energy bills.
There are also, however, serious challenges to implementation. One is cost. Some of these appliances, depending on the model, are more expensive than their gas-powered counterparts even after factoring in lower energy bills — although the gap is narrowing and financial incentives can help. For example, for most homes in Philadelphia, installing a heat pump and mini-splits for HVAC would cost between $20,000 and $30,000, a steep price compared to the $5,000 it typically costs to replace a gas boiler, furnace or AC unit. The IRS offers a $2,000 tax credit for heat pump installation, however, and an $8,000 rebate is expected to come online next year, making the system’s price comparable.
A second challenge is logistics, as some electric products can be more difficult to find than their gas-powered counterparts. For example, most people buy a water heater after their old one fails and they find themselves without hot water. The average contractor may only carry gas-powered models on their truck, leaving unprepared homeowners locked into a new gas model for its decade-plus lifespan.
The third challenge involves the necessary prep. Installing these technologies often requires upgrading a home’s electrical panel and wiring in order to provide enough power, groundwork that often runs into the thousands of dollars.
Fortunately, there are solutions to each of these problems.
Do you really need a new panel?
Calisch has a philosophy that is gaining some steam among electrification advocates: maybe going fully electric doesn’t necessarily require expensive upfront wiring work.
Copper’s first induction stove model, called Charlie, works on a standard 120V outlet by slowly sipping energy to fill up its internal battery, which it can then draw upon when it’s time to cook. Calisch points out that similar options exist for the other major appliances: companies also now make 120V plug-in heat pump hot water heaters, an energy-efficient technology that can draw heat from ambient air. And, barring a long daily commute, most drivers of electric vehicles can probably use a standard outlet.
Heat pumps for HVACs and dryers are harder to work around, as 120V models exist but are much smaller in capacity. Still, Calisch believes that just about every homeowner can make it work through wise energy management, such as by not running multiple 240V appliances simultaneously, leaving enough electricity for the rest of the house. There are even switching devices that can help, say by automatically turning off a vehicle charger while the dryer runs. In fact, Calisch says, figuring out how to electrify on 100 amps might be essential, given that it’s the standard amperage for any home built before the 1980s.
“We can’t all do that [upgrade],” Calisch says. “If we all get 200 amps, we’re going to fall down in building out the grid. Staying on the existing service has a ton of benefits.”
Taking advantage of financial incentives
Buying electric appliances can be expensive. Induction ranges available at big box retailers start at about $1,200, double the cost of the cheapest gas ranges. And the cost of middle- to high-end induction models can run into the multiple thousands of dollars. Copper’s Charlie range retails for $6,000.
But as is the case for many other technologies, there are incentives. Both HVAC heat pumps and heat pump hot water heaters are currently eligible for an IRS 25C tax credit, which will provide eligible taxpayers with a 30% savings back on the sale price, up to $2,000. For clothes dryers, there are currently no federal incentives, but PECO offers a $75 rebate for heat pump–powered models, along with various smaller rebates for energy-efficient appliances. And when Pennsylvania launches a federal rebate program in 2025, the savings will improve: up to $8,000 for a heat pump-powered HVAC system, $840 for a heat pump clothes dryer, and $840 for an electric stove, plus $2,500 for wiring.
Due to its internal battery, however, the Charlie model is eligible for a 30% federal tax credit for home battery storage, knocking the price down for eligible customers to about $4,200. When factoring in that the unit can allow many homeowners to forgo thousands of dollars in electrical system upgrades, it becomes cost competitive with 240V induction stoves.
Where to begin
It’s hard to keep track of all the technologies, options and financial incentives for home electrification. To help, Rewiring America created a Personal Electrification Planner, which allows users to input their home zip code, income level and personal preferences and receive a plan: what to do first, how to do it and what financial incentives they’re eligible for. The planner also gives homeowners an estimate of return on investment and transparently displays when an upgrade might not actually make sense financially. The free online tool is available at homes.rewiringamerica.org.
A general rule, experts say, is to have a plan detailing which electric model you want to buy once your existing gas appliance breaks down and who will install it for you. That’s particularly important for HVAC and water heating systems, as it may take some time and research to find a local contractor who carries, installs and services electric models.
Heat pump installations can take some additional planning. At the moment, the technology typically works by installing a heat pump unit somewhere outdoors that can heat or cool the house depending on the season. For homes without existing air ducts, ductless mini-splits are typically installed in several rooms, with the size of the outdoor unit and number of mini-splits dependent on the size of the house. For homes with existing ductwork, switching to a heat pump is usually simpler because existing ducts are repurposed.
If your house is currently heated by a water boiler that forces hot water through radiators or similar equipment, you’d likely abandon the system. “Air-to-water” heat pump systems exist, but are a niche technology.
