…banned in newly constructed homes and low-rise buildings, with broader mandates kicking in by 2029. Supporters say the move helps cut emissions and long-term costs, but critics argue it burdens residents and stresses an already strained power grid.
DB2
https://www.wgrz.com/article/money/business/nys-law-forces-all-electric-for-most-new-building-construction/71-81fddfec-90ba-4e86-b91c-36d270a11495
As these requirements take affect there is also confusion, frustration, and perhaps costly consequences for new home buyers according to the regional Builders Association.
Buffalo Niagara Building Association President Phil Nanula, who is also President of Essex Homes, says, “New York State … it’s been difficult to get anyone to really listen to any logic on the problems that this poses to us as builders. It was going to create about a $20,000 increase in the cost to build a home.”
DB2
Because of the Tariffs on copper? They are at 50% now.
At the New York World’s Fair in 1964-65, General Electric had a pavilion where they demonstrated the benefits of all-electric heat. Clean and easy.
Then electric rates soared. People with all-electric heating had much higher bills.
Our current house has electric heat. But we also have a wood-burning stove over which DH installed ductwork to distribute the heat. I had the firewood for next winter delivered a month ago so it would have time to dry. Plus we also have plenty left over from last winter.
Wendy
The number of buildings leveled by gas explosions, and the every-winter parade of local news stories about people killed by a leaking gas furnace makes me wonder if gas is all it’s cracked up to be.
Steve
The number of people killed by electricity is shocking.
har, har, har. Thing is. gas heated homes have electricity too. The gas adds a second layer of risk.
Steve
I have gas…er I mean my home has both a gas furnace and fireplace. I find it very convenient. My Barbecue, furnace both fireplaces , pool heater, and water heater all are gas. I would go all electric if I had solar but without solar I will stick to what I have.
Re: the $20k increase
Heat pump is probably $10k. Differential vs gas heat less than $5k. Yes, more copper wiring but no gas lines.
That number is a gross exaggeration!!
When ideology trumps economics, watch out!
The Captain
My choice of heating/ cooling if I was building new would be a heat pump (which is electric but less expensive to operate than baseboard electric), then piped-in gas (which is less expensive), then baseboard electric. I hate oil heat.
If you have a gas furnace it might be worthwhile to have the system inspected now and then.
Plus…for those who live in the country…there’s nothing more comforting than a natural wood fire in a wood stove. But it’s a lot of work.
Wendy
Q: Where is New York going to get this electricity?
A:
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
They should never have shut down the Indian Point nuclear power plant that was running just fine in New York. The politicians said that Indian Point was going to be replaced with renewable forms of energy. The politicians lied. New York state now generates more electricity from fossil fuels than it did before Indian Point shut down.
2019 NY electricity generation from fossil fuels: 50,229 GWh
2024 NY electricity generation from fossil fuels: 64,586 GWh
This is a 28% increase.
_ Pete
When politicians ignore the science of the use of fossil fuels, watch out.
Maybe not lied but were really enthusiastically, over excited, and optimistic. They should have been happy just getting rid of coal and used gas as a back up until it was really realistic. Ah well this is the way of bubbles and then ten years later it is the norm.
When politicians ignore the science of the ballot box, they better get a new job.
The Captain
Agreed, it’s full of hot air.
Some of it will come from CHPE -
True dat. And when the flat-earther constituency gains control, we’re all screwed.
It really depends on where you live. I won’t bore you with all the physics. In Phoenix in the winter, a heat pump is fine. But at some point, a heat pump won’t work (on either temperature extreme). Or, rather, it won’t work very well. Upper NY state? I’m guessing a heat pump would strain to extract heat from the outdoors and pump it indoors (that’s how they work). At some point, you’re better off with gas or oil (both of which don’t care how cold it is). On the hot end (e.g. Phoenix), it never really gets hot enough here that it doesn’t work, but the efficiency can go way down when it’s 120F outside. Swamp coolers don’t work at all in those conditions.
So, no solution is good for every situation. Depends where you live.
Absolutely right. I live in Sequim, which has one of the mildest climates in the country. There’s very little change between day and night and winter and summer. If the temperature goes above 80 degrees in August or 30 degrees in January everyone in town complains. My unheated basement has a year-round temperature of about 55 degrees so an in-ground heat pump would be ideal.
https://barbolian.com/permaculture-journey/site-analysis/climate-discussion/
Wendy
In other words, they will import some of the power from Canada. Quebec does have a lot of hydro power, and Ontario to the west generates most of its electricity from nuclear power. So that is all clean, dispatchable and reliable. As long as the Prime Minister of Canada doesn’t decide to shut off the supply at some point.
_ Pete
fwiw, “This Old House” often installs heat pumps in Massachusetts. Granted, the heap pump maker (often LG) probably pays them to use it’s products, but if they were unworkable in that climate, seems TOH would have a liability problem with the homeowners. Some of the pumps they install use ground heat, some use air.
from Mr Google:
Boston, Massachusetts experiences a humid continental climate characterized by warm, humid summers and cold, snowy winters. The warmest month is July, with average highs of 82°F and lows of 66°F. January is the coldest month, with average lows of 24°F and highs of 37°F. The city also receives a substantial amount of precipitation throughout the year, averaging 43.77 inches annually.
Metro Detroit has an “average” winter low in the mid 20s too, but it gets a heck of a lot colder at times.
And, of course, there is a lot of US of A between the extremes.
Steve
