Washington State Board Mandates Heat Pumps in All New Buildings

Washington state has advanced first-in-the-nation rules that would require all new buildings to use electric heat pumps, which would give the state some of the country’s strictest energy efficiency codes.

The State Building Code Council voted Nov. 4 to adopt a mandate setting heat pumps as the primary source of space and water heating. The rule is set to be finalized in January and take effect July 1, 2023.

The move is “an exciting step forward toward meeting our goal to reduce greenhouse gases in our state,” according to Katy Sheehan, a member of the council who voted in favor ...