Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

US Consumer Spending Falls as Trump Tariff’s Muddle Economy

2 days ago

US Supreme Court Lets Parents Take Kids Out of Classes With LGBT Storybooks

2 days ago

In Win for Trump, US Supreme Court Limits Judges’ Power to Block Birthright Citizenship Order

2 days ago

California’s Newsom Sues Fox News for $787 Million for Defamation Over Trump Call

2 days ago

Motorcycle Collides With Tractor in Fatal Fresno County Collision

2 days ago

Fourth of July Celebrations Begin Saturday. Here’s Your Fresno Area Guide

2 days ago

Bill Moyers, Broadcaster and LBJ’s White House Press Secretary, Dies at 91

3 days ago

State Department Approves $30 Million for Gaza Humanitarian Foundation

3 days ago

Cargo Ship That Caught Fire Carrying Electric Vehicles Sinks in the Pacific

3 days ago

4 Million Acres of California Forests Could Lose Protection. What Trump’s ‘Roadless Rule’ Repeal Could Do

4 days ago
Opinion: Agencies Should Follow CARB’s Leadership on Emissions From Gas Appliances
gvw_calmatters
By CalMatters
Published 5 years ago on
December 2, 2020

Share

California led the nation earlier this year with the country’s first gas-powered vehicle phase-out, but the state’s air regulators aren’t stopping there.

An overlooked directive during a recent California Air Resources Board meeting was the first step in phasing out gas-powered appliances in our homes, citing the health and climate risks.

By Denise Grab

Special to CalMatters

Board members voted unanimously to adopt a groundbreaking resolution that commits the agency to taking significant action on emissions from gas appliances in buildings. As Air Resources Board Chair Mary Nichols indicated, this is the clearest commitment that the board has made to-date to address the climate and health impacts from gas appliance emissions in the buildings sector. And to my knowledge, this is the strongest statement so far on building emissions from any air regulator nationwide.

With the new resolution, the Air Resources Board is committing to support the California Energy Commission and other agencies to adopt new building standards that require better ventilation of gas appliances and encourage electric appliances. They also intend to support new rules to reduce nitrogen oxides and other harmful emissions from gas appliances, while expanding their efforts to improve health within disadvantaged communities.

Fossil fuel appliances, such as gas stoves, furnaces and water heaters, emit pollutants known to harm health and increase asthma risk. One in eight Californians has asthma, and asthma rates are even higher in lower-income communities and communities of color. More than 12 million Californians living in homes with a gas stove are breathing levels of nitrogen dioxide that would be illegal outdoors, while 1.7 million are breathing levels of carbon monoxide that would exceed outdoor limits.

Meanwhile, building emissions are the No. 1 source of premature deaths from air pollution statewide, accounting for more than 6,000 premature deaths per year. These health risks can be avoided by removing combustion sources from our buildings and using clean and efficient all-electric alternatives, like heat pumps.

A Huge First Step and an Important Signal

This resolution marks the beginning, not the end, of the process to enact formal regulations that are directly binding on appliance manufacturers and other relevant entities. But it is a huge first step and an important signal to the market about where policy is heading.

The Air Resources Board’s resolution comes at a crucial time, as the California Energy Commission is currently making key decisions for its 2022 Building Energy Efficiency Standards. More than 200 organizations and individuals have submitted comments to the commission in support of an all-electric code for 2022. Supporters range from health professionals, to environmental justice organizations, to architects and building engineers, to electrical contractors, to utility companies, to city and county leaders from across the state. This commission process will determine whether the state will still allow polluting and expensive gas infrastructure in new buildings, or whether California’s buildings will shift toward a cleaner and healthier all-electric future.

California is currently adding more new gas connections than any other state, which is only taking us further away from our climate goals. If we wait until the next code cycle in 2025 to move toward an all-electric building code, that will result in 3 million excess metric tons of carbon emissions by 2030, and more than $1 billion of unnecessary spending on new gas connection infrastructure.

All-electric buildings can also reduce costs over the life of the appliances, as compared to gas alternatives. A new single-family home in Oakland with electric space and water heating will save customers more than $2,000 compared to heating with gas. Meanwhile, California households can expect to save money on their energy bills with new heat pump appliances, compared to their older gas appliances.

With all-electric buildings, we can save money, protect public health, and help our state achieve its climate goals. California Air Resources Board’s resolution shows crucial leadership on the importance of building electrification for the state to meet its climate, health and economic goals. It’s now time for other state leaders, like the governor and members of the California Energy Commission, to step up and lead on building electrification, as well.

About the Author

Denise Grab is a manager on Rocky Mountain Institute’s Carbon-Free Buildings team, where she focuses on California policy and appliance regulation, dgrab@rmi.org. She lives in San Francisco.

[activecampaign form=19]

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

I Detest Netanyahu, but on Some Things He’s Actually Right

DON'T MISS

University of Virginia President Resigns Under Pressure From Trump Administration

DON'T MISS

How Did the Supreme Court Rule? Here’s a Look at the Big Cases

DON'T MISS

Mamdani’s NYC Primary Win Sparks Surge in Anti-Muslim Posts, Advocates Say

DON'T MISS

Trump Sends in DOGE to Slash Federal Gun Regulations by July 4

DON'T MISS

Tensions Flare at Announcement of Major Fresno County Gang Takedown

DON'T MISS

Measure C ‘Blackmailed’ As Fresno Enviro Coalition Gets Huge Say on Transportation Tax

DON'T MISS

Despite $49M Deficit, Fresno Unified Gives Top Brass 5% Raise, 3% One-Time Bonus

DON'T MISS

US Consumer Spending Falls as Trump Tariff’s Muddle Economy

DON'T MISS

US Supreme Court Preserves Key Element of Obamacare

UP NEXT

Much of LA’s Community of Immigrants Is Hiding, Leaving a Hole in the Fabric of the City

UP NEXT

Things Netanyahu Might Say if Injected With Truth Serum

UP NEXT

California Politicians Ignore Ag’s Troubles, but Boost Movie Business

UP NEXT

Trump’s Courageous and Correct Decision to Bomb Iran

UP NEXT

How the Attacks on Iran Are Part of a Much Bigger Global Struggle

UP NEXT

Groceries Are Now a Luxury. So Is Breathing.

UP NEXT

California Politicians Agree on School Money, but Poor Test Scores Need Attention

UP NEXT

Sen. Alex Padilla: This Is How an Administration Acts When It’s Afraid

UP NEXT

Bay Area Transit Systems Want More Money. But Their Payrolls Soared as Ridership Declined

UP NEXT

History Suggests the GOP Will Pay a Political Price for Its Immigration Tactics in California

Mamdani’s NYC Primary Win Sparks Surge in Anti-Muslim Posts, Advocates Say

23 hours ago

Trump Sends in DOGE to Slash Federal Gun Regulations by July 4

2 days ago

Tensions Flare at Announcement of Major Fresno County Gang Takedown

2 days ago

Measure C ‘Blackmailed’ As Fresno Enviro Coalition Gets Huge Say on Transportation Tax

2 days ago

Despite $49M Deficit, Fresno Unified Gives Top Brass 5% Raise, 3% One-Time Bonus

2 days ago

US Consumer Spending Falls as Trump Tariff’s Muddle Economy

2 days ago

US Supreme Court Preserves Key Element of Obamacare

2 days ago

US Supreme Court Lets Parents Take Kids Out of Classes With LGBT Storybooks

2 days ago

Fresno Unified Trustees Will Get Automatic Raises on Tuesday

2 days ago

Alleged ‘Fake’ ICE Agents Charged. Fresno Court Date Set

2 days ago

I Detest Netanyahu, but on Some Things He’s Actually Right

Like a lot of people of center-right/center-left political leanings, I’ve spent the past few decades detesting Prime Minister Benjamin Netan...

21 hours ago

2022 Election Rally for Netanyahu
21 hours ago

I Detest Netanyahu, but on Some Things He’s Actually Right

University of Virginia President James Ryan Resigns
21 hours ago

University of Virginia President Resigns Under Pressure From Trump Administration

22 hours ago

How Did the Supreme Court Rule? Here’s a Look at the Big Cases

Zohran Mamdani Speaks to Supporters
23 hours ago

Mamdani’s NYC Primary Win Sparks Surge in Anti-Muslim Posts, Advocates Say

American Flag Revolver
2 days ago

Trump Sends in DOGE to Slash Federal Gun Regulations by July 4

Rob_Bonta_Speaking_At_Press_Conference_1280x720
2 days ago

Tensions Flare at Announcement of Major Fresno County Gang Takedown

Garry_Bredefeld_Sandra_Celedon_Mesure_C_1280x720
2 days ago

Measure C ‘Blackmailed’ As Fresno Enviro Coalition Gets Huge Say on Transportation Tax

Fresno_Unified_Raises_1280x720
2 days ago

Despite $49M Deficit, Fresno Unified Gives Top Brass 5% Raise, 3% One-Time Bonus

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend