The Washington State Building Code Council has voted to require heat pumps for all new residential construction starting in July 2023.
The new mandate has drawn criticism over concerns that it will add costs to housing construction, especially given current supply chain challenges for heat pumps.
An official with the Building Industry Association of Washington said the measure was a “de facto ban on natural gas” because it would mean that bringing in gas lines for cooking, backup heating, and decorative fireplaces would be cost prohibitive.
The code also applies to system upgrades, the official said. Homeowners that would want to upgrade the output of their gas furnaces would have to install a heat pump instead.
One Washington legislator said the mandate would mean higher up-front costs that make housing less affordable, increased potential for brownouts and blackouts due to grid-capacity constraints, and the prospect of higher energy bills.
Related Stories
Energy Efficiency | Oct 30, 2015
Boston’s energy reporting law shows older buildings more efficient than post-1950 structures
First year of reporting tracks 45% of commercial building space.
Energy Efficiency | Oct 28, 2015
San Francisco energy consumption benchmarking ordinance bears fruit
Efficiency has improved since 2011 law initiated.
Energy Efficiency | Oct 12, 2015
Renewables surging in mix of U.S. energy generation
‘Tectonic Shift’ as coal use plummets; wind and solar rise.
Energy Efficiency | Oct 2, 2015
New York City launches accelerator program for energy efficiency retrofits
Goal is 1,000 buildings a year.
Sponsored | Energy Efficiency | Sep 28, 2015
Nation’s first zero energy retail store features metal roof, composite panels
The building, a Walgreens made with metal and composite material from Petersen Aluminum Corp., includes enough sustainable features to attempt to earn LEED Platinum status.
Energy Efficiency | Sep 25, 2015
Federal renewable energy mandate prompts retrofits
Agencies must get 30% of electricity from renewables by 2025
Energy Efficiency | Aug 28, 2015
North American Passive House Network e-book explains Passivhaus, net-zero techniques
Free guide includes spotlight on individual projects
Energy Efficiency | Aug 24, 2015
Google develops Google Maps for solar energy
The tool offers high-resolution aerial maps, like the one used in Google Earth, to estimate the total sunlight a rooftop receives throughout the year.
