The Earth Ministry/WAIPL community joined with over 75 groups and 4600 individuals who submitted supportive written comment for updating Washington’s building codes for new residential buildings. Update: On November 4 the WSBCC voted to implement these climate-friendly building codes, making Washington’s building codes one of the strongest in the nation! Starting in July 2023, more clean and healthy homes will become a reality.
Together, we highlighted the importance of requiring electric heat pump and stricter gas stove ventilation in all new residential and small multifamily construction. This faithful advocacy followed up on our successful advocacy that passed the same commitment for large multifamily and commercial buildings earlier this year – read more about that win here. Both put Washington on the path to have one of the most climate-friendly building codes in the nation!
We know that continued dependence on polluting fossil fuels, especially fracked gas, is not faithful. Enduring existence of fracked gas infrastructure in buildings will increase indoor air pollution and subsequent health risks, perpetuate reliance on dirty fossil fuels, promote more fracking (often on Indigenous lands,) and exacerbate our changing climate that already weighs most heavily on those on the margins.
Earth Ministry/WAIPL members told the State Building Codes Council (SBCC) how, as people of many faiths, we want to see all of Washington’s future homes exemplify care for our common home and align with our values of justice and sustainability. Over 120 people of faith added their name to our faith community sign on letter, and our Advocacy Director, Sister Jessica Zimmerle, was featured as one of ten testimony highlights from the public hearing on Oct 14. Read the other testimony highlights here.
“When the air outside is polluted to the point of hurting human health, we’re told to stay inside. But the sad reality, and what many don’t realize, is that indoor air is estimated by the EPA to be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air. This fact is unacceptable. Homes should be a place where children, elders, those most vulnerable, and all of us can feel safe and breathe easily. The prevalence of toxic fracked gas in homes is a moral issue, just as the climate crisis is a moral crisis. To help us better live into our values of stewardship, justice, and health, we ask the Building Code Council to please vote in support of the full package of residential energy code proposals.” Sister Jessica Zimmerle, Advocacy Director for Earth Ministry/Washington Interfaith Power & Light