SACRAMENTO Calif. — State Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, has introduced SB 282, the Heat Pump Access Act.
SB 282 is intended to make the installation of cost-saving, energy-efficient heat pump water heaters and HVAC systems faster, simpler, and more affordable by streamlining the permitting process.
Makes these installations easier will speed the recovery of communities impacted by climate disasters, such as Los Angeles, according to a press release from the Building Decarbonization Coalition. Updating the permitting process is also an essential step toward the state’s goal of installing 6 million heat pumps by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2045, the press release said.
Because heat pumps are so energy efficient, reducing electricity use for heating by up to 75%, the average household in the U.S. can save nearly $400 a year by switching to a heat pump, the press release said. When paired with solar and/or battery systems, and outfitted with demand-response capabilities, heat pumps can save residents even more.
Replacing a fossil-fuel HVAC or water-heating system with a heat pump eliminates harmful pollutants those systems release into homes, improving the health of Californians and slashing climate emissions dramatically, the press release said. Heat pumps also include air-filtration capabilities that reduce indoor air pollution from sources such as wildfire smoke.
“Californians need relief from sky-high energy costs and the extreme temperature changes driven by climate change, and heat pumps are an essential solution to both problems,” said Wiener. “Unfortunately the permitting process for heat pumps is deeply broken, making homeowners suffer long waits, high fees, and needless hoops just to install a heat pump. The Heat Pump Access Act will create a standardized permitting process across the state that is faster, simpler, and cheaper for homeowners and contractors.”
Streamlining permitting for heat pumps is also critical to ensuring that California is able to meet the targets set by Gov. Gavin Newsom of installing 6 million heat pumps by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. With just under 2 million heat pumps installed throughout the state, there are five years left to deploy more than 4 million additional heat pumps, which will require quadrupling the current rate of installation, the press release said.
Currently, more than 600 jurisdictions have authority over heat pump permitting, which creates a patchwork of permitting requirements. This can pose a major challenge for contractors who have to learn new processes for each city or region. The current permitting process can also involve long wait times for inspections, multiple permit types, high fees, and local requirements that can delay installations and drive up costs, the press release said.
“The Heat Pump Access Act will help California rebuild and fast-track heat pump installations for homeowners,” said Madison Vander Klay, government affairs manager at the Building Decarbonization Coalition. “Equipping homes with highly efficient heat pumps can increase climate resilience, provide comfortable cooling and heating, and reduce air pollution. Heat pumps can help us build back safer, healthier homes and communities.”