BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT
Daily Post Staff Writer
The Bay Area Air District heard hundreds of public comments yesterday (May 6) for and against its proposed ban on buying natural gas water heaters, set to take effect on Jan. 1.
Because public comments took around four hours, the board’s discussion was postponed until Wednesday.
Executive Director Philip Fine is recommending a watered-down version of the ban to address affordability concerns. Low-income residents or homeowners spending more than 28% of their income on their mortgage would be exempt. Contractors could also get an exemption if someone has electrical or space constraints that would result in a high-cost installation, Fine said.
To work out the details, Fine is recommending delaying the new rules until Oct. 1.
The purpose of the ban is to lower nitrogen oxide levels in the Bay Area.
Students, elected officials, church leaders and environmentalists from around the Bay Area weighed in.
Fletcher Middle School student Sarah Seeger said she was horrified when she learned natural gas water heaters poison homes with nitrogen oxides.
“I want a clean and healthy future,” she said.
San Jose realtor Ana Maria Russo said residents should be allowed to choose.
“Yet again, the middle class gets stepped on and shoved to the side,” Russo said.
What these people pushing this don’t understand is that it isn’t as simple as swapping the water heater. Electric water heaters require a 240V connection that won’t exist in 99% of homes today. Not only do you ave to run the line from the box, many older homes don’t have the capacity for a new 240V line. That means you have to spend thousands to upgrade the electrical box and service. When everything’s said and done you’re probably looking at $10K to change. Change the building codes to require new construction. Leave the older homes alone (or give an incentive that will cover the service upgrade costs).
And the exemptions would address this scenario.
There are real benefits to electrifying. Your black and white approach missed how much more efficient they are. In my case, my electric bill is 1/3 of what it was with a gas water heater. I don’t pollute my family or risk exploding homes. When the rest of the world is speeding towards electrifying, holding onto old technology keeps us uncompetitive and vulnerable as a nation. I am a realtor and have seen the numbers floating around realtor circles. They are showing extreme examples which would be covered in the exemptions. Also, rebates abound, doing much to offset the cost delta. Why stop progress for sensible installations for those who can afford it?
Of course people who can afford it and want to do it should be allowed to do it, but I don’t think it’s right to force people upon whom it would be an impossibility or a financial hardship
‘Fletcher Middle School student Sarah Seeger said she was horrified when she learned natural gas water heaters poison homes with nitrogen oxides.
“I want a clean and healthy future,” she said.
maybe Sarah could ask her principal and the other parties why they selected a natural gas powered swimming pool water heater that is kept on year round when the school does not even have a swimming program for the students? She might also ask why it was approved literally after the school announced they would have a “Sustainability for All” program in fall 2023, integrating environmental stewardship into its core curriculum, electives, and campus culture .
If your neighbor gets a heat pump, you should buy some earplugs. You’ll never enjoy another moment of peace and quiet again!
Stop fear mongering. Today’s heat pumps are no louder than a quiet dishwasher or your refrigerator.
I don’t know anybody who is in favor of this. And I don’t see the point when China and Germany are burning coal like mad. Whatever sacrifices are meaningless. I feel like there’s another agenda here.
Heat pumps are notorious for making a lot of noise, and if they belong to a neighbor … then you’re screwed. You can build an acoustic barrier or an off-the-shelf acoustic enclosure. Marine plywood and acoustic absorbent foam or rockwool can be very effective. If your neighbor is a jerk about all of this, there is a saving grace — his electrical bill will double with a heat pump.
Not only is it a hardship for lower income folks to pay the 10K to rewire the house and install the heater, it is also a hardship for older folks who are burdened with heath problems (like us with Alzheimer’s) or just don’t want to be bothered with more disruptions to their already depressing routine. Let us live in peace from these government imposed hardships – we’ll die soon enough and you can put in a heat pump in the new home that gets put on our lot after our home is scraped. I propose an exemption for seniors over 65 who have lived in their current home for at least 10 years.
“I want a clean and healthy future,” she said.
STFU Greta Thundberg.
Instead of housing the undocumented, have the city/state pay for swap out.
So this is being imposed by unelected political bosses? I thought Democrats were against Kings?