Meanwhile, the State Building Code Council updated its energy code in 2021 to comply with an updated national energy code. That state update did not forbid installation of gas appliances in new buildings, nor did it call for them to be removed in retrofits of older buildings. However, even when gas appliances are chosen, the new or updated buildings must still show the same energy savings as a building using electric heat pump, water or space heating.
In a written statement, the Council said the code changes won’t force anyone to phase out natural gas. Critics say otherwise.
They say Seattle, Shoreline and Bellingham have all installed or at least
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