The Bay Area Air District has voted to move forward with water heater standards described by supporters as the strongest in the nation. Starting in 2028, households will need to install water heaters that meet clean-air requirements when their existing gas units reach the end of their life. The district approved exemptions for low-income households and complicated installations.
The district says gas appliances in Bay Area homes and buildings produce more smog-forming nitrogen oxide pollution than all passenger cars in the region combined. It estimates that standards covering water heaters and furnaces could prevent as many as 85 premature deaths and 15,000 asthma attacks annually.
The transition could also reduce household energy costs. Research by RMI estimates that Bay Area residents switching from gas water heaters to heat pumps could save $360 a year. SPUR projects that $315 million in home energy-efficiency rebates will be available over the next three years to support the change.
The vote followed thousands of public comments supporting the standards, according to the announcement. Advocates, environmental groups, heat pump installers and local elected officials welcomed the decision, saying it could improve air quality and expand access to cleaner home technology.
Sources: CleanTechnica.