Second Step: Ditching all the gas appliances.

TL;DR:

Details: The gas powered appliances I had were the water heater, kitchen stove/oven, dryer, and furnace. The water heater was first to go, I replaced it with a heat pump hot water heater. Heat pumps work like refrigerators, moving heat from one place to another rather than creating new heat. In this case they consolidate hot air from my basement and transfer it into the water. Because the heat pump is so energy efficient, I’m already saving on the utility bill.

My 15+ year old water heater was 75 gallons and it’s last legs, so I chose a Rheem heat pump replacement. The Rheem heat pump water heater comes with an app that allows you to turn it on/off from anywhere in the world. I recommend making this change first because it should be straight forward.

In removing the gas line for the water heater I had them remove the gas line for the dryer (by accident). I wrongly assumed with a brand like “Electrolux” my dryer was obviously electric. Now dryer-less, I had to rush out to buy the same dryer model but electric, so it could stack on my washer. Electrolux would not be my first choice based on energy star rating, I may have gone with a heat pump dryer. Do some research here, I’m sure there is a better way.

It’s at this juncture I’ll mention if you will eventually go solar you should upgrade your main and sub panels to 200amp (if they aren’t already). Having the electricians do this when they wire up your new appliances makes sense so they don’t do some work twice. I detail my panel upgrade in STEP 4 of this series.

Products:

• 50 Gal Rheem Heat Pump Water Heater with WiFi: $1.5k (BUY) Install Cost: $380 electrician, $1.6k plumber

• Electrolux Electric Dryer: $1k (BUY) (I had to get this one, I might have got a heat pump dryer if I could have). Install Cost: $300 electrician and $75 setup

• 36" Bosch Induction CookTop: $2.5k (BUY). Install Cost: $450 electrician, $4k for new counters.

• 30" Maile Wall Oven: $3.5k (BUY). Install Cost: $450 electrician, $500 cabinet modification.

• HVAC heat pump, this is still TBD, but I’m leaning towards a 18 or 21 SEER rated Goodman or Daikin (same company): $3.2k (BUY). Install Cost: $2k HVAC and duct adjustments.

Total Spent: $22k

Total Cost Offsets: $30k over 25 years ($1,200 in annual gas spending eliminated)

Financial acknowledgement: With maintenance and equipment replacements, I realize this bucket will likely become a loss over 25 years. It’s worth it because it enables me to make 100% of my own energy. I would have most of the wear and tear costs here in 25 years anyway.

Time Saver: I got mixed reviews about if you can piece together an induction top with a wall oven to replace a standard stove. I concluded you CAN and here is how it looks. As long as you can get 4" to 6" spacing underneath the cooktop it should work.

BRING ON STEP 3