Several years ago in 2018 and 2019 I had the good fortune to tour two different all-electric houses in LA. The first one, in Mar Vista, piqued my interest but it was the second one in Atwater Village that sealed the deal. 

I saw a pathway forward to wean our buildings off fossil fuels and have it be a win-win. Better energy efficiency, better indoor air quality and greater comfort was possible while keeping maintenance and operating costs (utility bills!) low.

From 2020-2023 I Co-chaired the AIA Santa Barbara Committee on the Environment and began writing articles on this transition away from fossil fuels. In 2024 I mounted two exhibits of all-electric projects by local architects that included retrofits, new houses, multi-family buildings and commercial structures. 

I recently stepped down after 3 years and I am going to spend 2024-25 planning a transition for my 1926 cottage. What is the point of having beautiful architecture if it is adding emissions and contributing to the heating of our planet?

I'll be trying to maximize the federal IRA dollars available as well as any California incentives. I'll document my process at some point as this transition away from fossil fuels feels like a hurdle for many people. 

For those skeptical of electrification, this resource from Ventura's Tri-County Regional Energy Network dispels many of the myths.

Electrify your Life