Earth Protect Blog

Letter to Editor, The Denver Post, What it is and why you should care

Joan Bancroft, Arvada

As a pediatrician my work compels me to advocate for the health of our children.

I have come to regard “home electrification” as a critical step to protect the health of children, families and the environment. Generally, “home electrification” describes transitioning from using gas for cooking and heating to using electricity for these activities. This change improves indoor air quality.

Using gas exposes us to the byproducts of combustion — pollutants that have been linked to the development of asthma, increased frequency of asthma exacerbations, adverse developmental effects in children and cardiovascular health effects.

Home electrification also helps to address climate change. As we move to more renewable energy sources, cooking in our homes can be powered by the wind and the sun instead of contributing to climate change and bringing pollutants into our homes.

When you are ready to upgrade appliances, induction cooktops are increasingly affordable and heat pumps or “minisplits” efficiently heat and cool a home.

For individuals not ready to change to electric appliances, there are ways to decrease your pollutant exposure. You can find these tips at the website “electric4health.org.”

As Colorado continues to grow, we can plan for a healthier future through legislation promoting home electrification. Denver recently passed an ordinance requiring new construction to be mostly electric by 2027 with a goal of getting to “net-zero” emissions by 2030. Considering similar legislation throughout Colorado is an important step that we can take to protect our health and the health of the planet.

Jessica Miller, Fort Collins