New York has made history as the first state in the U.S. to mandate the construction of new buildings that are entirely electric, without any fossil fuel connections. This new law, known as the All-Electric Buildings Act, was finalized by the State Fire Prevention and Building Code Council. Under the rule, residential buildings up to seven stories and commercial buildings under 100,000 square feet will need to comply by the end of 2025, while larger commercial buildings will have until 2029. The move aims to reduce emissions, as buildings contribute to 31% of emissions in New York.
The effort is welcomed as a significant step towards combating climate change and is expected to reduce energy usage by approximately 17% in New York homes. This could equate to savings of nearly $5,000 per household over a span of 30 years. Furthermore, new electric buildings may even lead to lower construction costs, offering savings of up to $8,200 for building 100% electric single-family homes. Although this rule has faced challenges from industry groups, the recent ruling reaffirms that community health and well-being take precedence over fossil fuel profits. Alex Beauchamp of Food & Water Watch emphasized the importance of unity among New Yorkers in achieving significant policy changes that aim to eliminate fossil fuels from both new and existing buildings in the future.
https://www.ecowatch.com/new-york-new-buildings-electric.html