How Can Homes Move Away From Fossil Fuels?

Written By Teacher: Elaine Makarevich

Elaine is a New Jersey educator with 30 years of teaching experience in grades K-6. The earth and the natural world have always been a focus of her life and throughout her career as her students learned critical lessons about their planet when visiting her indoor or outdoor classrooms.

Transitioning homes away from fossil fuels like oil and gas is one of the most impactful ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but it’s a complex process requiring education, resources, and policy support. Heating systems powered by fossil fuels are a major contributor to household carbon emissions, yet alternatives like heat pumps and renewable energy options can offer efficient, climate-friendly solutions. However, the transition poses challenges, from the upfront costs of upgrading equipment to ensuring policies and incentives make these technologies accessible for all. MIT’s overview of policies for transitioning home heating provides valuable insights into how governments and individuals can make this shift a reality. For younger students, SubjectToClimate’s Sven’s Search for Clean Energy introduces the benefits of renewable energy through an engaging story. Older students and high school learners can dive deeper into the environmental impacts of fossil fuels and sustainable energy solutions using Fossil Fuels and Climate Change.

Written By: MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative

The MIT Climate Change Engagement Program, a part of MIT Climate HQ, provides the public with nonpartisan, easy-to-understand, and scientifically-grounded information on climate change and its solutions.

Globally, heating buildings is one of the largest sources of CO2 emissions. This is especially true in places where most homes use natural gas or, worse, oil for their heat. In Massachusetts, where these heating fuels are used by around 85% of households, oil and gas heating was responsible for 30% of statewide emissions in 2020.

For these areas, the way forward is a combination of two strategies: better heating energy efficiency in homes through more insulation and air sealing; and the widespread deployment of electric heat pumps to replace gas, oil, and propane heat. This electric heating creates no emissions in the home at all, and can run on clean hydroelectric, solar, and wind energy as these technologies are added to the electric grid.