WHY ELECTRIFY?
Upgrading to pollution-free electric appliances in Southern California homes and businesses will protect our public health and reduce harmful air pollution.
If adopted, these proposed health-protective standards would deliver the greatest emissions reductions of any air quality regulation the South Coast Air Quality Management District has issued in three decades.
Health
Burning methane gas and propane in buildings produces harmful NOx pollution and deadly fine particulate matter (PM2.5), both of which pose serious risks to human health. NOx leads to respiratory conditions like asthma and reduced lung function in children, and increases the risk of heart disease and early death. Similarly, PM2.5 is associated with increased hospital visits for heart and lung problems and asthma attacks, and long-term exposure is linked to reduced lung function in children and premature death.
Affordability
You can save big when upgrading to a heat pump or heat pump water heater by taking advantage of existing incentives. With programs like the Go Zero Rebate Program, TECH Clean California, and home energy rebates from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), there are many opportunities to save money. Some incentives can be stacked for maximum savings.
Energy Efficiency
Heat pumps are highly-efficient electric appliances that pull double duty—keeping homes cool during extreme heat waves and warm when temperatures drop, all while improving air quality and energy efficiency. Heat pump technology can also be used for water heating.
Equity
Low-income communities and communities of color in the South Coast region are most burdened by particle pollution from gas appliances. South Coast air regulators can tackle this gap by implementing healthy air standards for appliances in partnership with local communities.
Climate
Heat pumps are highly efficient appliances that cut climate emissions within the very first year of installation and across the entire lifespan of the product. In fact, the average heat pump installed in California reduces climate emissions by 93% over its 15 year lifespan compared to a gas furnace.
Job Opportunities
A statewide transition to all-electric buildings requires the talents and skills of workers from across the economy. A study found that electrifying all of California’s existing and new buildings by 2045 could create over 100,000 full-time equivalent jobs in various sectors of the economy.