Clearing the Air by Phasing Out Polluting Appliances

Gas appliances in buildings emit nitrogen oxide (NOx). Recognizing a profound opportunity to improve health and reduce regional greenhouse gas emissions, SPUR bolstered the case for zero-pollution rules for water- and space-heating appliances.

Relative to pollution-reduction efforts in power generation, regulators have done little to cut pollution from appliances in buildings, which make up 10% of all the state’s emissions. Between 2000 and 2020, emissions from California’s homes decreased by a mere 3%, and those from commercial buildings increased 51%.

SPUR helped form the Bay Area Clean Air (BACA) coalition to take part in the Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s (BAAQMD) public engagement process to determine the feasibility and scope of rules to phase out gas appliances. To build the case for a zero-pollution standard, SPUR provided research to back a zero-NOx standard to speed the transition to electric appliances, touting subsidies to address affordability concerns.

Thanks to advocacy by SPUR and its BACA allies, BAAQMD adopted zero-NOx water heating and space heating rules in March 2023. The first-in-the-nation rules phase out the sale of new gas water heaters, starting in 2027 for water heating, 2029 for space heating, and 2031 for larger-scale water heating.

In addition to helping California meet its climate pledges, replacing gas appliances will prevent 15,000 asthma symptom incidents and avoid up to 85 premature deaths every year. Heat pump adoption will add cooling to many Bay Area homes, increasing resilience to extreme heat.

The California Air Resources Board is considering similar rules. In 2024, California and eight other states signed an agreement to ensure electric heat pumps make up 65% of home-heating appliance sales by 2030.