Past time to tackle pollution in our homes and buildings
Connecticut homes and buildings are an overlooked source of smog-forming pollution
Ask 10 people about the biggest contributors to the smog that hangs over Connecticut cities, and you’ll likely hear about cars, trucks, and power plants.
One source of pollution that probably won’t come up is homes and buildings. But in 2020, burning oil, propane, and gas for space and water heating generated close to a quarter of Connecticut’s smog-forming pollution. That’s eight times more than power plants.
It’s disturbing that the health toll from heating equipment has flown under the radar for so long. Most Connecticut residents are unaware that the furnaces and water heaters in their homes are a significant source of nitrogen oxide, the leading contributor to smog — let alone at a level that far surpasses the power sector.
Even more alarming than the lack of public awareness is the complete absence of a statewide strategy to tackle this pollution. Connecticut sets limits on many other major sources of NOx, but no air quality standards are in place for HVAC and water heating equipment.
This failure has major consequences for Connecticut communities. Building equipment pollution drives a staggering
$520 million annually in health impacts, such as treatment for respiratory diseases and lost work days due to illness. Communities of color are disproportionately impacted.
It’s long past time for the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to protect the health of our residents by cleaning up our homes and buildings. A new report out recently that I co-authored outlines how air quality standards that gradually transition households to energy efficient electric heating and water heating technologies could not only eliminate a leading source of pollution but also save households money on utility bills.
Here’s how these standards would work: Right now, when a polluting furnace or water heater burns out, it is likely to be replaced with the same antiquated fossil fuel technology, even if doing so would unnecessarily cost the household thousands of dollars in higher utility bills over time. Connecticut can ensure that households install energy-efficient electric heat pumps by adopting air quality standards for new heating equipment. This would benefit all residents through cleaner air and save the majority of Connecticut households money on their utility bills.
An analysis from RMI found the savings would be particularly significant for homes using heating oil or propane. Upgrading to energy efficient heat pumps can cut these households’ utility bills by more than a third. Most households that burn gas are likely to see bill parity when upgrading to a heat pump.
Electric heat pumps not only provide heating but also cooling during Connecticut’s increasingly sweltering summers. Research from Oxford University recently found that heat pumps are more than twice as efficient as fossil fuel heating systems in cold temperatures, and these systems are more efficient at cooling than traditional AC units.
Tackling pollution from homes and buildings won’t just improve air quality, it will also move the needle on climate change. Fossil fuel HVAC and water heating
equipment is responsible for roughly 30% of Connecticut’s total climate pollution — more than three times the emissions of the state’s entire industrial sector.
Replacing a gas furnace with a heat pump in the average Connecticut home decreases polluting emissions by 27% in the first year alone and 51% over the heat pump’s 15-year lifespan. Climate savings are even greater for homes that transition from heating oil or propane.
State and federal incentives can help Connecticut residents cover the upfront cost of pollution-free technologies, but more investment will be needed to ensure widespread adoption of heat pumps. Energize Connecticut, the state’s energy efficiency
program, offers residents up to $15,000 to upgrade to heat pumps. And starting next year, low-income homeowners can take advantage of federal rebates of up to $8,000 for air-source heat pumps.
Connecticut has failed to meet federal air quality standards for decades, and it is past time for the state to tackle pollution in our homes and buildings. Moving forward with air quality standards for HVACs and water heaters is a long-overdue step that should be part of the state’s clean air strategy. It’s time for regulators to take action.