How to achieve an-all electric home

Only a few years ago this would have been unthinkable. Today, however, a gas-free home is technically feasible and can be a viable solution for many people. All it takes is to be connected to the electricity grid and be equipped with a few tools: among them, having a self-producing energy installation makes the electrification of the home even more convenient.
A first step concerns the electrification of heating, cooling and hot water production. A particularly efficient solution is represented by heat pump systems, which exploit the temperature difference between the house and the outside environment to condition the rooms in the home all year round. Some of these systems are also capable of heating water, making it possible to dispense with gas boilers or electric water heaters.
To do without gas, when it comes to cooking you can use an induction hob. This type of hob uses magnetic fields to generate heat directly in the cookware, providing greater efficiency and safety than conventional hobs. In addition, induction hobs are compatible with modern smart devices: these are useful tools for lighting and heating management that optimise energy consumption through real-time monitoring and programming automatic switching on and off. On the energy-saving front, an obligatory step concerns LED lighting, which is a much more durable and efficient alternative to traditional light bulbs.

Photovoltaic energy is the ideal heart of an all-electric house. Photovoltaic panels convert sunlight into electricity, lowering the cost of utility bills. There are various types of photovoltaic panels for balcony and roof installation, and these can also be fitted in an apartment building. An appropriately sized system can cover the energy needs of an average home, eliminating dependence on gas.

Initial costs for the installation of alternative systems, such as heat pumps and photovoltaic panels, can be reduced by accessing various incentives and amortised over time through savings on energy consumption.

In addition to the economic benefits, a gas-free home is a safer, more comfortable environment, reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and improving the quality of life of those living in it. 

The gas-free home. Is it worth it?

But is a gas-free home worth it? And if so, for what reasons?
First of all, abandoning the use of gas in our homes means reducing energy consumption for domestic heating and hot water. Modern technologies, such as heat pumps, ensure high energy efficiency, resulting in significant savings on power bills.
The installation of photovoltaic panels also allows self-production of energy, further lowering costs and making the home more independent of traditional energy sources. The use of induction hobs completes the picture, offering an safe, efficient method of cooking.
In addition to the economic benefits, a gas-free home is a step towards environmental sustainability by eliminating methane gas, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, and contributing to a greener future.
There are also significant advantages in safety terms. With an all-electric house, dispensing with gas eliminates the risk of leaks and domestic accidents, providing a safer environment for the whole family. It is also an investment for the future, as European regulations are moving towards the decarbonisation of the energy sector, and choosing a home that is already prepared for the use of renewable energies will prove to be forward-looking.

How do you heat a house without gas?

Heating a house without gas is possible with various modern technologies that use renewable energy sources to ensure thermal comfort and energy efficiency. One of the most popular systems is the heat pump. These devices use the heat in the outside air or ground to heat the indoor environment during the colder months; vice versa, during the summer periods, they can also be used to cool rooms. Heat pumps offer an environmentally friendly, efficient alternative to traditional gas heating, providing a high level of thermal comfort and reducing energy costs. While air-to-air heat pumps are limited to heating or cooling the air inside rooms, air-to-water heat pumps can also be used to produce hot water in a gas-free home; a viable alternative comes from systems that heat water using solar thermal energy. Both of these options make it possible to obtain hot water for domestic use in a sustainable, cost-effective manner, thus contributing to making the entire home heating and hot water system more efficient and environmentally friendly. Ultimately, heating a house without gas means using technological tools that ensure optimal thermal comfort and reduce environmental impact, without sacrificing comfort and convenience.

What is the consumption of an all-electric house? 

The consumption of a house without gas depends on several factors, including geographical location, climate conditions, energy class of the property, size, number of occupants and consumption habits. In most cases, it is still possible to make significant savings on bills compared to a traditional gas-fuelled house.
Considering a house of about 100 square metres inhabited by a family of four, replacing a natural gas boiler and hob with an induction hob and a heat pump system for heating and hot water production leads to an overall reduction in energy consumption of about 65%.
In particular, an induction hob, besides being safer than a gas cooker, cooks food more evenly and in less time and can consume up to 50% less energy than an old cooker. Heat pumps used for heating allow a saving of about 45% compared to the operation of a normal gas boiler, for the same home size, number of occupants and geographical location. Moreover, in summer they can be used to cool rooms. Heat pump water heaters win the consumption battle against gas boilers, but also against old electric water heaters, offering an average consumption saving of 65%. In general, the expenses of an all-electric house mainly concern the cost of purchasing energy and the possible need to increase the power supply. However, these expenses can be greatly reduced and even cut to zero if self-producing energy systems are installed in the home, such as photovoltaic panels, possibly combined with storage systems.
But how many kW does a gas-free house consume? It is difficult to give a definitive answer to this question and to identify the costs for electricity in a gas-free home because, as mentioned, this depends on many factors. On average, an all-electric house of 100 square metres in energy class A with four people can consume around 7,500-8,000 kWh of energy per year.