California to Ban Gas-Fired Space and Water Heaters in 2030

By Christian Roselund

As part of its plan to meet federal ozone standards, the California Air Resources Board voted on 22 September, 2022 to move forward on a package of measures including a ban the sale of fossil fuel-fired heating units for homes and businesses starting in 2030. The Zero-Emission Standard for Space and Water Heaters will accompany a host of other measures, including regulation on both light- and heavy-duty vehicles, off-road equipment, and even pesticides in reaching these targets.

Despite being one of many measures to combat ozone, this strikes at the heart of natural gas usage and greenhouse gas emissions from buildings in California. The state’s analysis finds that space and water heating comprise nearly 90% of all building-related gas demand.

CARB plans to work with other state agencies and the U.S. Department of Energy to develop this standard, which would apply to new commercial and residential buildings. It would not require retrofits in existing buildings but would apply to the replacement of burned-out units. As noted by Grist, this move to require replacements to be zero-emissions “opens a new front in the war on
fossil fuels.”

CARB notes that it expects the new rule to rely heavily on heat pump technologies. The agency’s move follows bans on gas appliances in new construction in more than 50 California cities and counties, including the cities of Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, and San Jose. This movement has gone nationwide, with Washington D.C., New York, and Seattle following suit in banning the installation of some or all gas appliances in new buildings. These bans will take effect between 2022 in 2027, depending on the city and the scale of the building.

News: California’s 2030 ban on gas heaters opens a new front in the war on fossil fuels (Grist)

Source: Proposed 2022 State Strategy for the State Implementation Plan (California Air Resources Board)