Why We’re Building All-Electric, High-Efficiency Homes

At Dilworth Homes, we’ve always prioritized building homes that are not only beautiful but also thoughtful—designed with efficiency, sustainability, and long-term value in mind. That’s why, here in Culver City, California all of our newest homes are now fully electric.

The Hidden Costs of Gas

When constructing a new home, the first step often involves removing the existing gas meter and shutting off the gas line at the street to safely begin demolition and excavation for the foundation. If a new gas line is needed, it must be installed from the street to the new meter location—and that line isn’t yours. It’s owned by SoCal Gas.

On several recent projects, we found that the cost of trenching and installing a new gas line ranged from $5,000 to $7,000 under typical conditions— a cost billed by SoCal Gas. But on our latest project, the cost of a simple 75-foot gas line skyrocketed to over $35,000. Same scope of work. No unusual complications. Just an unpredictable and inflated utility cost—one we couldn’t justify passing on to our buyers. 

Could We Have Paid It? Sure. But Should We?

Could we have spent $35,000 to bring in a gas line for a home priced at the top of the Culver City market? Absolutely. But this unexpected cost was a wake-up call. It pushed us to explore what a fully electric home could look like—not just in theory, but in practice. And what we found was transformative. 

With enough solar panels and battery backup, an all-electric home can operate almost entirely off-grid—right here in the middle of the city. No gas, no utility surprises, just clean, resilient, self-powered living.

Going Electric: A Better Way Forward

Instead of spending tens of thousands of dollars to bring gas to a brand-new, energy-efficient home, we invested in smarter all-electric systems powered by rooftop solar and a 400-amp panel. Here’s what that looks like:

Heat Pump HVAC

These systems heat and cool your home using electricity and refrigerant, not gas. They work by moving heat instead of generating it—making them incredibly efficient in both warm and cool climates.

Heat Pump Water Heater

Think of it as a mini air conditioner that sits atop your water heater tank. It pulls heat from the surrounding air to warm your water—using the same heat pump technology as your HVAC. Bonus: it exhausts cool air, which can help regulate your garage temperature.

Induction Cooktop

Unlike traditional gas or electric coil stoves, induction cooktops use magnetic energy to heat your pots and pans directly—boiling water faster, delivering precise temperature control, and keeping your kitchen cooler in the process.

Smarter Homes, Lower Costs, Healthier Living

Going electric isn’t just about avoiding unpredictable gas utility fees. It’s about building homes that are safer (no combustion inside the home), healthier (no indoor gas fumes), and more aligned with California’s clean energy goals.

As builders, we believe we have a responsibility to our homeowners and our environment. That’s why we’re building the next generation of homes—efficient, resilient, and 100% electric.