October 29, 2024
It’s getting hot out and in here. We often talk about how extreme heat is becoming more common, lasting longer (into fall), and is part of California's regular climate. On top of wildfires in the state, air pollution from gas-fired equipment in buildings and homes has us in a chokehold. But thanks to people like you who are tired of breathing in polluted air outside and inside our homes, we have been leading the way towards the fossil fuel-free future we all deserve.
These past few years have seen us achieve major wins in getting toxic polluting gas out of the buildings we live in., despite the fossil fuel industries' ongoing greenwashing campaigns and attempts to block our efforts.
Just last year, we set future zero-emission standards for large commercial ovens at the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) through rule 1153.1. This summer, we mirrored this approach to require pollution-free equipment in large, commercial water heaters, and boilers with rule 1146.2.
Now, we have the chance to pass another rule that would tremendously impact our region to regulate pollution from homes and businesses. The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) –responsible for setting air quality standards for Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties – will be voting on rules that will reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions (which are extremely hazardous to our health) from residential and commercial furnaces and water heaters in our buildings. Combined, these rules will continue to help us achieve the emissions reductions we need to attain federal air quality standards, protect our communities from asthma and chronic illness, and meet our statewide climate goals.
In the four counties1 represented by the SCAQMD, fossil fuel use in homes and businesses releases over nine times more NOx pollution and four times more fine particulate matter (PM2.5) into the outdoor environment each year than is emitted by all power plants in the region combined.2 SCAQMD now has the opportunity to require that manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and installers produce, sell, and install available pollution-free alternatives.
The benefits of these rules include:
- Protecting the health of residents in the South Coast Air Basin by reducing air pollution with clean energy equipment
- Allowing Southern California to actually meet federal air standards
- Providing both highly efficient and pollution-free cooling AND zero-emission heating with heat pumps – addressing a significant gap in climate resilience in the Los Angeles region, where 32% of residents still lack access to air conditioning at home.
We need to keep our momentum from recent wins to pass these proposed regulations and tackle the pollution in our buildings. There are some exciting events, rallies, and votes taking place this November and December and need you to show up with us and our allies. If you are interested in getting involved in the fight for clean air and joining one of our upcoming actions, email kim.orbe@sierraclub.org. Climate action is also cool + hot!
1 SCAQMD includes large portions of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties. While approximately 5% of the four-county population resides in other Air Districts, full county data are used throughout this document.
2 Emissions data from EPA 2020 National Emissions Inventory. Appliance emission estimates include residential & commercial emissions for the gas, oil, & other fuel categories, with commercial emissions adjusted to exclude certain non-appliance sources like pipeline compressor stations.