Electrify Your Home

What is Home Electrification?

Home electrification means switching from gas-powered appliances to all-electric appliances. All-electric appliances are cleaner, reduce energy use and result in long-term savings. If you are a single-family homeowner learn how to get started with your home electrification journey today.

Top Three Appliances to Switch

Switch from	Switch to
Gas Furnace	Heat Pump Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
Gas Water Heater	Heat Pump Water Heater
Gas and Electric Range Stove	Induction Stove

In Sunnyvale, about a third of our emissions come from gas appliances used to heat and cool buildings. For single-family homes, most emissions come from space heating (45%), then water heating (41%) and cooking (5%). To make the biggest impact, switch to a heat pump HVAC, heat pump water heater and induction stove.

Reasons to Switch

REGULATORY DRIVERS

Bay Area Air District Rules (9-4 and 9-6)

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District has adopted rules that limit the sale of appliances that emit nitrogen oxides (NOx), a harmful air pollutant.

Rule 9-4 applies to furnaces
Rule 9-6 applies to water heaters

Key timelines

2027: Residential water heaters
2029: Furnaces
2031: Large commercial and multifamily water heaters

These rules apply at the time of purchase of a new appliance.

Read about:

Sunnyvale Building Code (Reach Codes)

Reach codes are local building codes that go beyond California's State Building Code requirements.

In August 2025, Sunnyvale City Council approved reach codes for existing single-family home alterations. Enforcement of these reach codes will begin at the end of 2026.

Refer to:

Report to Council 25-0762, Aug. 12, 2025 - Introduce an Ordinance Amending the Energy and Green Building Codes to Add Reach Code Requirements for Existing Single-Family Residential Projects; CEQA Exempt

How to Make the Switch

Assess your home's energy use

Explore local, state and federal incentives, or connect with a local contractor

Try induction cooking for free

Borrow a Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Saving Kit

Get an emergency water heater replacement

Resources

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Rebates and Incentives

Rebates from Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE): Rebates for heat pump water heaters, heat pump HVACs, induction cooktops and more.

Incentive Finder: Find all available rebates and incentives personalized to your project

Financing

Zero Interest Financing: Make upgrades affordable with interest-free payment options.

Income-Eligible Programs

EASE Program: Make energy upgrades that improve health and home comfort.

No-Cost Electrification: Fully covered home electrification upgrades for qualifying households.

ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT

VIDEOS

All videos are YouTube videos unless noted.

Electrify Your Life YouTube Playlist: Learn how to electrify your home, explore local success stories, research rebates and more.

Electrifying! Beyond Fossil Fuels in Homes & Businesses (01:33:10): Find out how converting to heat pumps could save money and protect the climate.
Sustainability Speaker Series webinar, May 31, 2017

The Buzz on Multifamily Electrification (01:33:10): Watch how to make apartment and multifamily buildings all electric.
Sustainability Speaker Series webinar, Jan. 21, 2026

FOR RENTERS AND MULTIFAMILY OWNERS

Q & A from Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE)

Questions and Answers from SVCE

Why are people switching to electric appliances like heat pumps?
Heat pumps are more efficient because they move heat instead of making it. They also do not produce harmful emissions. Gas furnaces and water heaters release pollution that can harm people’s health. In the Bay Area, buildings create more smog than all the cars combined.
Can homes with smaller 100-amp panels switch to heat pumps without a panel upgrade?
Yes! Most homes can switch to all-electric power using a 100-amp panel. Even older homes and homes without air-conditioning.

Peninsula Clean Energy studied over 100,000 single-family homes. They found that 99% of them never use more than 100 amps in a year. More than 80% never use more than 40 amps.
Is a heat pump water heater more expensive than a gas water heater?
Without rebates or discounts, a heat pump water heater costs about $3,000 to $4,000 more to install than a gas water heater. With SVCE rebates, the extra cost drops to $0 to $2,000, depending on income. Costs can vary because every home and project is different.
Will heat pumps increase bills?
Heat pump HVAC systems are more efficient than air conditioners and gas furnaces. Since they use less energy, they can lower bills by about $25 to $50 per month. Heat pump water heaters can also save homes $20 to $35 per month compared to gas water heaters.
When will sales of gas furnaces and water heaters be prohibited?
To meet national clean air standards, the Bay Area Air District will phase out the sale of new gas:
- Water heaters in 2027
- Furnaces in 2029
These rules only apply to new equipment. They do not ban existing gas appliances or stop people from repairing them. See Regulatory Drivers above.
Are there incentives to switch to a heat pump?
Yes. SVCE offers a $2,000 rebate for heat pump water heaters and $2,500 for heat pump heating and cooling systems. Customers who qualify by income can get even more. SVCE also offers up to $2,000 to help pay for electrical work needed to install heat pumps. There are special programs for affordable housing and apartment buildings.
Can the grid handle electrification?
Yes. Experts like the California Energy Commission and California Public Utilities Commission think electricity use in our area will only go up about 9% by 2030. This is because of more electric homes and vehicles. Also, new clean energy and storage are added to the grid every day.