OLYMPIA, Wash. – New homes and apartments will have to be heated and cooled by heat pumps beginning next July.
The Seattle Times reports the Washington State Building Code Council voted 9-5 in favor of the requirement last Friday.
This is in addition to an earlier council decision mandating heat pumps for commercial and industrial buildings.
Governor Inslee appoints the members of the council.
Warming and cooling buildings is a big contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, and heat pumps use about half the electricity of conventional systems.
They have a high upfront cost, but the federal Inflation Reduction Act includes funding to help subsidize the upgrades.
Still, critics say the requirements are too strict and could reduce eligibility for the subsidies.