New York is the first state to ban gas in new buildings

New York recently became the first state to prohibit gas and other fossil fuels in most new buildings.

The State Fire Prevention and Building Code Council approved an all-electric building standard on July 25. The state’s rules will apply to new structures up to seven stories tall and, for commercial and industrial buildings, up to 100,000 sf, beginning Dec. 31, 2025.

Larger buildings must be built all-electric beginning in 2029. The new code is expected to boost installations of heat pumps and heat-pump water heaters.

The state’s new energy code will raise the cost of residential construction but also lower energy bills substantially. The payback is projected to be 10 years or less, according to a report commissioned by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.