Supported by Partner Engineering and Science, Inc.

Propmodo Technology

By Franco Faraudo · July 17, 2024

Greetings!

Several cities and states have proposed banning gas appliances, but legal challenges have prompted regulators to seek alternative methods to reduce gas use in buildings. Plus, this week in Propmodo Technology, with support from Partner Engineering and Science, Inc., we are highlighting HVAC systems. Also, be sure to register for tomorrow’s webinar about property resilience, risk mitigation, and insurability.

Improving Air Quality Might Not Be as Easy as Banning Gas Stoves

Earlier this year, a Stanford study made headlines by releasing results that highlighted the health risks posed by gas appliances. The researchers measured the harmful nitrogen dioxide emissions from typical gas stoves and assessed the impact of these pollutants on human health. Based on their findings, they estimated the negative health effects of the nearly 40 million gas stoves in use across the country. In one of the most damning statements, the report's authors estimated that poor indoor air quality from gas appliances like stoves and furnaces could contribute to 200,000 cases of childhood asthma and might be responsible for around 19,000 deaths annually.

There was already a growing movement to ban gas appliances to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but this new evidence highlighting their harmful effects on building occupants prompted several cities and states to propose bans. Some smaller cities, like Berkeley, California, already had gas stove bans in place, but larger cities, such as New York, San Francisco, and Seattle, imposed similar bans after the study.

But these bans don’t always pass legal scrutiny. Berkeley's pioneering ban was opposed by the California Restaurant Association in court and was eventually struck down on the grounds that cities do not have the authority to ban certain types of fuel. Denver also passed a ban on natural gas in new buildings, which, like Berkeley's ban, faced opposition from restaurant trade associations, the National Association of Home Builders, the American Hotel and Lodging Association, and the National Apartment Association. A similar situation has played out at the federal level. Last year, the House of Representatives passed a ban on gas stoves, but it did not pass through the Senate.

Technology could play a vital role in reducing air pollution from gas appliances in lieu of a ban. New innovations, such as "jet-powered infrared" gas stoves, have been developed to replace traditional models. Additionally, new homes are being equipped with more sophisticated HVAC systems that can monitor air quality and bring in fresh air when pollutant levels get too high.

Due to intense and well-funded opposition, banning fossil fuels might not be the most effective way to improve indoor air quality. Instead, a more nuanced approach could be more effective. Some states, like California and New York, have changed building codes to only allow electric appliances for new builds and remodels. Other states are starting to require stove hoods to vent outside instead of recirculating the air. The federal government has also taken action; the Energy Department has set new efficiency standards for gas stoves, requiring them to be much more efficient and cleaner burning.

There are many reasons to replace gas appliances with electric ones, but due to the opposition to total bans, regulators are finding alternative ways to reduce the use of gas in buildings—at least until courts begin upholding bans on fossil fuels in buildings.

PRESENTED BY PARTNER ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE, INC.

Insurance Crisis Compels Owners to Future-Proof Properties

Property owners and investors are facing an insurance crisis. The increase in insurable losses due to natural disasters and severe weather events has led to an exponential increase in insurance premiums and policy cancellations. Simultaneously, rising construction costs have resulted in higher replacement costs. To address this crisis, property owners and investors must quantify and minimize their risk exposure in order to give the best underwriting presentation.

In our upcoming webinar, Partner Energy President Tony Liou and Technical Director Jessica Wright will dive into strategies for climate-proofing your properties to minimize physical and transition risks. They will also provide details of the Construction, Occupancy, Protection, Exposure (COPE) Assessment, which could help with the insurability of your assets and reduce insurance premiums.

Bytes

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HVAC Technology

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Propmodo Technology is edited by Franco Faraudo with contributions from readers like you and the Propmodo team.

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