Feb 17, 2023 00:09:00

A law will be enacted in the United States to oblige the transition from gas water heaters to electric water heaters by 2027

In

the San Francisco Bay Area , California, USA, a law to eliminate gas water heaters from all homes by 2029 and replace them with electric water heaters from the viewpoint of air pollution is scheduled to be voted in March 2023. . According to this law, the sale of gas water heaters will be virtually illegal in the San Francisco Bay Area from March 2023, and residential water heaters will be required to be gradually replaced with electric water heaters.

Bay Area plan to bar natural gas devices sparks fierce pushback
https://www.sfchronicle.com/climate/article/bay-area-gas-heater-debate-17769394.php

The law, which is expected to be voted on in March 2023, will stipulate that all new homes must have electric water heaters by 2027 and heat pump heating to replace fireplaces by 2029. In addition, even if the old gas water heater installed in the existing house breaks down, it is required to replace it with an electric water heater according to the same schedule.

Nitrogen oxides (NOx) emitted from gas water heaters are compounds associated with health problems such as photochemical smog, asthma, and cardiovascular disease, and are thought to contribute to air pollution, the greenhouse effect, and the destruction of the ozone layer.

There are about 1.8 million homes in the San Francisco Bay Area, but it is believed that about 90% of the nitrogen oxides emitted from these homes are produced by gas water heaters. According to the Air Pollution Regulatory Authority, eliminating gas water heaters in the district would prevent 89 deaths a year by reducing nitrogen oxides.

The law, due to be voted on in March 2023, does not explicitly ban gas water heaters, but it does make it mandatory to install nitrogen oxide-free water heaters by a deadline. Therefore, it is necessary to eliminate gas water heaters that emit nitrogen oxides through combustion.

Public comments from local residents were mostly in support of the law, but 160 of the 530 public comments were against the law. Opponents have expressed strong concerns about the cost of installation and the feasibility of the plan. Local resident Mike Thompson said, ``If your gas water heater breaks, is it really fair that you can't use hot water until you get an electrician to replace it with an electric water heater?''

In addition, there are voices of dissatisfaction with the fact that utility costs are soaring due to inflation, and that water heaters, which are essential to life, depend on electricity that can be cut off due to storms and fires. is.

However, Greg Nudd, Bay Area Deputy Director of Policy, said, 'Nitrogen oxides from household gas water heaters are not a significant source of pollution, but at about 1.8 million households, they pose a significant environmental problem.' said. ``Subsidies in the United States and California are available when replacing old gas water heaters with electric water heaters,'' he said.

Meanwhile, replacement contractors, plumbers and home heating installers are ill-equipped to meet the massive demand of customers for electric water heaters.

` `The supply chain for electric water heater products is not ready to meet a lot of demand. says.

However, San Francisco resident Adam Buck said, ``The move to electric water heaters under this law can clearly stimulate the market to develop and deploy sustainable clean energy alternatives.'' increase.

The San Francisco Bayside referendum on the enactment of this law is scheduled to take place on March 15, 2023.