It’s true, we have made some progress in South California towards our climate goals in the last couple of years. But there is so much more that our air quality regulators can do to set stricter standards that change the course we’re on.
Right now, we have an opportunity to act. The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), which is responsible for setting air quality standards for 17 million people living in Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties, will vote on two rules that will achieve tremendous emissions reductions by requiring gas-fired furnaces and water heaters to be replaced with zero-emission counterparts at burnout, when new space heating appliances or water heaters are sold or installed in our region.
Shifting from gas-burning equipment to zero-emission alternatives like efficient electric heat pumps will reduce communities' exposure to harmful pollutants. The South Coast region is home to more than 17 million people -- 44% of the population of the entire state. These residents have historically suffered from some of the worst air quality in the nation. While air pollution has improved, progress has leveled off, and the air remains unsafe to breathe for large portions of the year. In recent years, research has shown the specific impacts of building pollution on human health. Harvard public health researchers found that fossil fuel-fired heating equipment contributed to roughly 517 premature deaths nationwide in 2017.
We need to keep our momentum from recent wins to pass this proposed regulation and tackle the pollution in our homes.
Tell SCAQMD you support the transition to zero-emission, non-polluting space and water heating!