Recommendation No.20240917-009: Alternatives to Resistance Water Heating in the Energy Building Code — original pdf

Recommendation

BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Resource Management Commission Recommendation No. 20240917-009 Recommendation to Mandate Alternatives to Resistance Water Heating in the Energy Building Code WHEREAS, all-electric resistance water heaters are profoundly inefficient, expensive for consumers to operate, and increase air pollution and carbon emissions; and WHEREAS, the majority of Austin Energy’s new Residential customers between 2013 and 2023 have electric resistance water heaters installed; and WHEREAS, many of these Residential customers do not have a choice about using this appliance because they live in rented single-family homes and multifamily units; and WHEREAS, most customers who reside in rented units are likely to be in the lower half of income levels and therefore less able to pay high electric bills; and WHEREAS, 60% or more of the energy costs for all-electric resistance water heating can be saved by use of heat pump water heaters and solar water heaters; and WHEREAS, Austin Energy has no programs for electric water heating load management, and has no rebate program for new buildings to encourage alternatives to resistance water heating, including heat pump water heaters and solar water heaters; WHEREAS, the state of California mandates high energy-efficiency heat pump water heaters or solar water heaters in its prescriptive option for its Residential energy building code; and WHEREAS, prescriptive codes set a floor of efficiency levels while allowing alternative compliance performance codes to meet this minimum level of efficiency; THEN BE IT RESOLVED the Resource Management Commission recommend that the City Council delay enactment of the new Residential Energy Building Code to insert language that requires the use of heat pump water heaters and solar water heaters as alternatives to electric resistance water heaters in all- electric buildings not also served by gas utilities to the extent legally allowed; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Austin Energy quickly prepare enhanced rebate and load management programs that will reduce all-electric water heater loads, and that these programs begin in the next fiscal year. Date of Approval: September 17, 2024 Vote: For: 6-0-2 Commissioner Paul Robbins, Vice Chair; Commissioner Trey Farmer; Commissioner Martin Luecke; Commissioner Chelsey Scaffidi; Commissioner Raphael Schwartz; Commissioner Alison Silverstein Against: None Off Dais: None Abstentions: Commissioner Louis Stone, Chair; Commissioner Charlotte Davis Absences: Commissioner GeNell Gary; Commissioner Dino Sasaridis Vacancies: Mayor’s Office Attest: Natasha Goodwin, Staff Liaison