When I first saw an induction stove, I was seven years old. My mom and I had just moved from California to Switzerland, and the kitchen there looked like something straight out of Star Trek, our favorite show, which we had to start watching dubbed in German. “Raumschiff” was one of the first words we learned. There were no flames, just a sleek black surface with glowing red circles.
Years later, when I moved into my first apartment back in the U.S., I was shocked to find that my stove ran on gas. I remember turning the knob and hearing the gas hissing! You’ve gotta be kidding me. If someone turns one of these knobs and walks away, I could be in serious danger? It seemed so outdated and unsafe.
And after the fire this past January, when my Palisades apartment (one that had an induction cooktop!) burned and the complex offered to relocate me, my heart sank when I saw the gas stove. I couldn’t do it. Not after everything.
That’s when I realized, on a very personal level, that electrification isn’t a technical choice. It’s about safety, health, and peace of mind for myself and my family.
I’ve been a member of our beloved local environmental organization, Resilient Palisades, since 2019. Almost all of our members are rebuilding too. Physically, emotionally, financially. We’ve felt the harsh post-fire air in our lungs and the uncertainty of not knowing where “home” is right now. That’s why our vision isn’t abstract. It’s deeply personal. We’re not just talking about rebuilding homes. We’re rebuilding trust in technology and in one another. We believe that our neighborhood can become a replicable national model for post-fire recovery.
We’ve heard the skepticism:
“Activists tried this in the ’70s.”
“Remember those all-electric Medallion Homes in the ’60s?”
“Gas heats faster.”
And it’s true. Those early systems weren’t great. Electricity back then came mostly from fossil fuels, heat pumps were clunky, and induction stoves were rare outside Europe. But today, the technology has evolved beyond recognition.
We want people to know that modern induction cooktops are faster and more precise than gas. Heat-pump water heaters work even in cold weather, using a fraction of the energy. Solar panels paired with battery storage keep the lights, fridges, and medical devices running when the grid goes down. And now, emerging technology allows electric vehicles to power homes in an emergency.
It’s not about giving up comfort. It’s about upgrading to a future that’s cleaner, quieter, and safer for everyone.
And we also want you to know that you don’t have to be perfect.
At Resilient Palisades, all-electric rebuilds excite us, but we know everyone and every home is different. You can start small and pick what works for you. Maybe it’s swapping in a heat-pump water heater or an induction cooktop. Both have great rebates available through LADWP. Every bit counts. Just keep in mind: you won’t be able to stack or “layer” certain rebates. For example, you can’t combine LADWP's incentives with CalEAP if you still keep a gas line but there are plenty of great rebates for single upgrades.
Our vision at Resilient Palisades is to create the Pali Microgrid, a model of local energy resilience where homes and businesses generate, store, and share clean electricity.
During the next outage, your solar-plus-battery home will stay powered and so will your neighbors’. That’s what we mean by a resilient community. Not just independence, but interdependence.
We’ve been working with LADWP, Rewiring America, the Building Decarbonization Coalition, Passive House Network, and USGBC-CA to make this a reality for everyone: renters, seniors, working families, everyone. Not just those with time and resources to spare.
Together, we’re developing educational events, connecting residents to rebates and trusted installers, and helping displaced families rebuild smarter, with electric heat, solar roofs, and clean air inside their homes. We don’t want to just replace what we lost.
We know that resilience starts block by block, yard by yard, piece by piece.
And when the next wind event hits or the power flickers, we’ll be ready. Not just individually, but together.
That’s what we’re building. Homes that protect us, energy that connects us, and a community that powers its own recovery.
Sara G. Marti
Pacific Palisades