New York is set to introduce a mandate that requires new homes to be heated and powered by electricity rather than gas or oil.
The change is part of the state’s 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
While existing gas and oil hookups will still be able to be used, new homes and buildings will need to use electric heating systems. Activists say this will be an important step towards reducing the state’s greenhouse gas emissions, which currently account for around a third of the state’s total.
While the move has been welcomed by environmental campaigners, some are concerned about the costs that will come with the switch to electric-powered heating.
A principal of a well-known Capital Region home builder says the change will “certainly going to add to the cost” of newly built homes. Meanwhile, the prospect of a gas stove phase-out has prompted heated debate, with some suggesting the change is akin to the gun control debate in the US. However, supporters of the mandate say the move is essential to tackling climate change.
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