Nonprofit retrofits Baltimore home to all electric to eliminate gas risks

The Green & Healthy Homes Initiative (GHHI) converted a Baltimore home to an all-electric system for a retired educator named Sherry Frazier.

Frazier previously experienced headaches and dizziness caused by a gas leak from her furnace. The nonprofit coordinated a series of upgrades to remove fossil-fueled appliances and address structural safety issues. GHHI identifies and repairs hazards in low-income housing, such as lead, mold, and poor insulation.

Because the median age of U.S. housing is 44 years, many older homes contain toxic pollutants from gas furnaces and stoves. The nonprofit covers the full cost of these renovations using a mix of federal and private funding. The project included replacing the roof, adding attic insulation, and installing a heat pump, an induction stove, and a heat-pump water heater. Workers also added safety features like handrails and a shower seat.

In July 2025, the organization installed a rooftop solar array to power the new systems. Frazier saw her monthly utility bills drop from an average of $230 to roughly $170. She also learned how to properly maintain her new heat pump to ensure it remains energy efficient during the winter. Frazier now shares information with other seniors about the health risks associated with gas appliances.