Web 57DHYAFZZFLZKT September 1 2026 California passes first of its kind heat pump permitting bill
In this Webisode 1 World 2 United States 3 Alaska 4 California passes first of its kind heat pump permitting bill 5 Colorado 6 Delaware 7 Maryland ordinance and wood burning Berlin tweaks tables proposed burning ordinance 8 Massachusetts Heat pump water heaters just keep getting better 9 Nevada 10 Oregon 11 Texas 12 Virginia 13 Washington 14 Canada Province of New Brunswick heat pump rebate New rebate for landlords could prove costly for tenants advocate warns 15 United Kingdom 16 Switzerland Is That a Solar Farm or a Train Track? 17 Southeast Asia 18 China Main Content
1A World wood smoke Bury do not burn The billion dollar wildfire climate fix Anthropocene Magazine Plants are the ultimate carbon capture device sucking carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in wood and leaves smoke this time of year 1B World PM TWO POINT FIVE Global fire activity exacerbates extreme PM TWO POINT FIVE pollution – Nature Extreme PM TWO POINT FIVE pollution events pose substantial threats to public health and environmental sustainability However under climate change the
2A United States wood smoke Characterizing Smoke Contaminants on Protective Clothing of Wildland Firefighters from Springer Nature smoke generated from pine wood combustion Key parameters including burning temperature airflow fabric air permeability surface friction and 2B United States heat pump rebate Control Point Heating Cooling Plumbing Electric Introduces Quilt Heat Pump Nonstop Local News The company can coordinate these installations with existing ductless or heat pump work and assist with available energy rebate processes Control 2C United States heat pump Heat pump owner asks how much less electricity a modern unit would use before sizing solar Yahoo Shopping heat pump may still deliver meaningful savings Upgrading a heating and cooling system is one of the best ways to 2D United States heat pump Heat pumps are taking over – WAMC A heat pump is a kind of HVAC appliance that handles both heating and cooling It does not burn fuel to generate heat Instead it uses electricity 2E United States heat pump Heating Trends in New Single Family Homes American Gas Association Electric heat pump and natural gas/ propane furnace installations increased across nearly every Census division since 2014 indicating that growth in 2F United States heat pump Homeowner eyes heat pumps after spending Three Thousand Dollars on winter oil supply Yahoo Shopping Heat pumps have become a much bigger part of the home energy conversation because they can both heat and cool a home while using electricity far more 2G United States heat pump Plug in window heat pumps could finally give US renters cheaper heat and AC Yahoo Shopping The energy stakes are sizable Heating and cooling buildings use Thirty Five Percent of all energy consumed in the US each year Heat pumps transfer heat instead of
3A Alaska heat pump rebate Alaska residents encouraged to take advantage of heat pump rebate program KSTK Households making Eighty Percent or under the median income for their community are eligible for the maximum grant of Eight Housand Five Hundred Dollars 3B Alaska heat pump rebate Coastal Alaska heat pump rebate program still has lots of money to give Petersburg Pilot heat pump rebate program to convert the heating system in their homes 3C Alaska heat pump rebate Coastal Alaska heat pump rebate program still has lots of money to give Wrangell Sentinel Those receiving the full Eight Housand Five Hundred Dollar rebate for low income households also have the option to use an Alaska Heat Smart approved contractor If so Heat 3D Alaska heat pump rebate Ketchikan Wellness Coalition Report KRBD Alaska residents encouraged to take advantage of heat pump rebate program
4A California wood burning Breaking Wood Fire reported in Riverside County on August 25 Sacramento Bee Wood Fire has burned 30 acres by Tuesday afternoon There is currently no information on the containment or cause of the fire Source Cal Fire 4B California wood burning Brush fire grows to about Thirty acres near Perris NBC Los Angeles A brush fire grew to a few dozen acres Tuesday in Riverside County as Southern California remained in the grip of extreme heat The Wood Fire was 4C California heat pump rebate California approves EV rebates Ninety Five point Two Million Dollars million for chargers and hydrogen fueling sites The Cool Down Heat pumps transfer heat instead of producing it and they can provide comparable heating and cooling while using less than half the electricity
4D California heat pump California passes first of its kind heat pump permitting bill home pros dot news Excerpts edited by Residents Against Wood Smoke Emission Particulates for brevity and clarity AI Overview The Heat Pump Act California has passed Senate Bill 222 the Heat Pump Access Act making it the first US state to create a standardized statewide permitting process for heat pump installations Authored by California State Senator Scott Wiener Democrat of San Francisco the bill passed the Senate Twenty Six to Five and the Assembly Sixty to Eight with broad support from contractors trade groups health advocates and environmental organizations Key Provisions One statewide permitting process Replaces a patchwork of local rules across roughly Six Hundred jurisdictions which currently vary widely and can cause delays and cost increases Automated online permitting for standard heat pump installations reducing paperwork and streamlining approvals Unified permit type covering both HVAC heat pumps and heat pump water heaters Reasonable transparent fees with no surprise costs Limits on excessive HOA restrictions that block or overly restrict replacing gas appliances with electric ones Reduced local requirements for wall and window AC units Contractor certification that load calculations follow the ACCA Manual J standard for residential installations Why It Matters Supporters say the bill will Speed up low cost installations to expand cooling access amid extreme heat Lower energy costs heat pumps can be up to three times more efficient than gas furnaces saving households an average of Three Hundred Four Dollars per year on heating/cooling and Ninety Seven Dollars per year on water heating Reduce building emissions and help California meet climate goals Currently Seventy Five to Niney Percent of heat pump installations in California are done without permits meaning no safety inspections or oversight The bill aims to close that gap by mandating oversight for compliant installations Next Steps The bill now awaits the decision of Governor Gavin Newsom by September 30 2026 If signed it will mark a major shift in how heat pump projects are regulated potentially accelerating electrification and reducing reliance on gas appliances statewide This move aligns with the California goal of installing six million heat pumps by 2030 and complements regional climate initiatives like the Bay Area Air District zero NOx standards for new water heaters and furnaces The Access Act cleared the state Senate on Tuesday and now awaits approval from Governor Gavin Newsom
4E California heat pump California Legislature Passes Heat Pump Permitting Bill ACHR News heat pump HVAC systems and heat pump water heaters Looking for quick answers on air conditioning heating and refrigeration topics? Try Ask ACHR 4F California heat pump California Passes the Senator Wiener First in the Nation Bill to Accelerate Heat Pump Access Senator Scott Wiener Heat pumps can also help homeowners stabilize energy bills as heat pumps are up to 3x more energy efficient than a gas furnace Data from TECH Clean 4G California wood smoke Dozens of Wood County residents notified as wildfire nears structures KLTV com A 30 acre fire is burning near FM 778 and US Highway 80 in Wood County and dozens of residents have been notified that flames are nearing 4H California wood smoke Evacuation orders and warnings issued for Wood Fire near Perris NBC Los Angeles The Wood Fire was burning in light grass and medium brush with a fast rate of spread in the Perris area The fire was near Rider Street and 4i California PM TWO POINT FIVE Improving air quality is notan easy fix Letters to the Editor napa valley register dot com The Napa Valley Register Also on the website I found data about particulate matter emissions of interest are the smaller particulates called PM Two point Five which can permeate 4j California wood burning Rubbish fire that spread to hillside near Lake Mathews is quelled after scorching 60 acres San Bernardino Sun The non injury Wood fire was reported at 1 pm in the area of Wood and Cajalco roads according to the Riverside County Fire Department 4K California heat pump rebate San Diego homeowner faced with Six Thousand Dollar water heater quotes learns how rebates can slash costs The Cool Down Because water heating makes up a large share of energy use in many homes reductions like that can matter over time Commenters said a heat pump Yahoo Shopping Cala makes customizable smart heat pump water heaters that help homeowners decrease their energy bills by heating water exactly when it is needed That 4L California wood smoke Wood fire evacuation orders downgraded in Riverside County as crews bolster containment LA Times Wood fire burning in brush west of Perris The blaze was reported around 1 pm as a 30 acre fire burning at a dangerous rate of speed in an 4M California wood burning Wood Fire in Inland Empire burns Thirty acres at dangerous rate authorities say CBS News A brush fire was burning at a dangerous rate in medium grass in an unincorporated portion of Perris in the Inland Empire on Monday afternoon 4N California wood smoke Wood Fire in Riverside County grows to 60 acres evacuations ordered The Desert Sun Smoke from the Wood Fire can be seen rising just south of Mead Valley Tuesday Wood Fire evacuations Evacuation orders have been issued for an 4O California wood burning The Wood fire prompts evacuations in Riverside County Los Angeles Times LA Times A fire in Riverside County has prompted evacuation orders and warnings in the Inland Empire The Wood fire was burning near Orland and Roth roads 4P California wood burning The Wood fire prompts evacuations in Riverside County in Southern California The Lawton Constitution The Wood fire was burning near Orland and Roth roads in an unincorporated portion of Perris according to the California Department of Forestry Union Bulletin LOS ANGELES A fire in Riverside County has prompted evacuation orders and warnings in the Inland Empire The Wood fire was burning near Orland
5 Colorado heat pump rebate What is the Mountain Energy Project? PIRG org RAWSEP View Wood Burning emits Four Hundred Fifty Times the PM Two point Five particulates as natural gas burning for home heating This article is not about wood burning for home heating and there are smaller PM Two point Five emission health problems accompany natural gas burning CO2 emissions problems at a smaller scale than from wood burning are illuminated well in this article and the solution is the same which is turning to Heat Pumps and electrification for home heating Using public hearings or communicating with Public Utility Commissions to communicate directly with utility companies is one avenue to change for the better Wood Burning emits more CO2 per unit of energy compared to natural gas burning Specifically natural gas produces lower emissions due to its higher energy content while wood burning can emit up to Four Hundred Percent more CO2 per megawatt hour than fossil fuels like natural gas AI Overview Carbon Dioxide CO2 Emissions Comparison Understanding the differences in CO2 emissions is crucial Natural Gas Emissions Natural gas primarily methane has a higher energy content resulting in lower CO2 emissions per unit of energy compared to wood Compared to Wood Emissions Wood burning power plants can emit from Thirty Six Percent to Four Hundred Percent more CO2 per megawatt hour than those burning fossil fuels Efficiency Factors The efficiency of power plants affects emissions Combined heat and power plants show smaller CO2 discrepancies between biomass and fossil fuels Sustainability Concerns Unsustainable use of wood can lead to high CO2 emissions similar to those from fossil fuels Back to the article headline rebates to help more people choose cleaner electric heating options like heat pumps Xcel has indicated that this may be the way to the largest change Faced with a Three Hundred Million Dollar bill to expand a gas pipeline communities Summit County secured a different path to meet their heating needs by expanding clean heat options acting as Utility watchdogs August 27 2026 heat pump Excerpts edited by Residents Against Wood Smoke Emission Particulates for brevity and clarity Tell your utility Invest big in energy efficiency Take Action says the Executive Director Co PIRG Foundation Many Colorado residents heat their homes with gas furnaces connected to the Colorado gas pipeline systems But even though overall gas use has gone down over the years we are paying more This makes even less sense when you factor in the pollution that is created when homes are heated with gas So when community leaders in and around Summit County were faced with a potential Three Hundred Million Dollar price tag to expand a gas pipeline to provide heat for the next few decades they advocated for a different plan that would be cleaner and more cost effective the Mountain Energy Project the Mountain Energy Project came about when Xcel Energy the utility that provides the gas and pipe infrastructure to heat many of the homes and businesses in and around Summit County warned that there would not be enough gas supply to meet the future demands of the region An old school way to meet this problem would be to just pump more gas up to these mountain communities by expanding the gas pipelines and infrastructure something Xcel is doing a lot in Colorado But because Xcel is a for profit utility their plans must be reviewed and approved by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission PUC which is the first line of defense for consumers That oversight exists for a reason Xcel is a monopoly within its service territory and could gouge its customers without price regulation It also has a financial incentive to invest and grow its gas system the more Xcel can spend the more profit making opportunities it has So the PUC acts as a check on that incentive ensuring that what gets approved is actually necessary and in the best interest of its customers And it gives the public and local leaders a chance to weigh in and advocate for the best plan for their community And when it comes to the mountain communities in and around Summit County a big gas expansion was not in their best interests especially with a price tag of roughly Three Hundred Million Dollars So they advocated for the PUC to approve a plan focused on reducing reliance on gas Recognizing that a business as usual approach such as Non pipeline alternatives NPAs and Investments in the electric side Non pipeline alternatives can include a variety of strategies For example retrofitting an old building with electric heat appliances or working to make sure new buildings use electric heat equipment like heat pumps As for investments in the electric side making sure the electricity grid is upgraded so it can handle providing heat throughout the winter if more of that heat comes from electricity instead of gas
6 Delaware wood burning Odessa Fire Rescue responds to fire started by someone burning trash spreading to – YouTube Odessa Fire Rescue responds to fire started by someone burning trash spreading to adjacent property
7 Maryland ordinance and wood burning Berlin tweaks tables proposed burning ordinance Worcester County News Bayside Gazette Excerpts edited by Residents Against Wood Smoke Emission Particulates for brevity and clarity Wikipedia Overview Berlin is a town in Worcester County Maryland United States which includes its own historical Berlin Commercial District As of the 2020 census Berlin had a population of Five Housand and Twenty Six Soon after the Civil War Berlin was incorporated as a town in 1868 and a period of significant growth ensued Within the next decade the arrival of the Delaware Maryland and Virginia Railroad made Berlin into a commercial center for upper Worcester County A fire in 1895 leveled a significant portion of the central commercial district According to the United States Census Bureau the town has a total area of Three point One Five square miles all land As of the Two Thousand Twenty census The median age was Thirty Nine point Four years Twenty Five point One Percent of residents were under the age of Eighteen Nineteen point One Percent of residents were Sixty Five years of age or older For every One Hundred females there were Eighty Four point Eight males and for every One Hundred females age Eighteen and over there were Seventy Seven point Five males age Eighteen and over Ninety Nine point Two Percent of residents lived in urban areas while Zero point Eight Percent lived in rural areas There were One Thousand Nine Hundred Ten households in Berlin of which Thirty Seven point One Percent had children under the age of Eighteen living in them Of all households Forty One point Nine Percent were married couple households Thirteen point Three Percent were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present and Thirty Six point Five Percent were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present About Twenty Six point Seven Percent of all households were made up of individuals and Twelve Percent had someone living alone who was Sixty Five years of age or older There were Two Thousand One Hundred Nineteen housing units of which Nine point Nine Percent were vacant Education The town also includes four public schools as well as one private school which have approximately Five Thousand students combined Worcester County Public Schools is one of the two top employers for the Town of Berlin RAWSEP View Clean air was at least temporarily defeated by two men in a town with population Five Thousand Twenty Six What was the intent of regulation of open burning in this town to begin with? Clean air is not mentioned in this article Why was there no discussion of the air pollution from wood burning? Wood burning on a large property produces much more air pollution than wood burning on a small property in this instance Is this large landowner seeking an exception a bully who expects to be treated differently and exert his power of the purse over this small town? Is there no way for the town to pick up yard waste and recycle it after a storm? Is there no recycling of debris? Wood can be composted into usable soil This primitive practice of burning wood after a storm is reminiscent of unnecessary but traditional agricultural waste burning in California or in India There are obviously cleaner alternatives On one side was unanimous approval by the Berlin Maryland town council to tighten its outdoor wood burning ordinance On the other side were two male residents who argued that a large landowner should be given permission to burn wood on his land while others should continue not to burn wood on their own smaller plots of land At the end of the meeting a future meeting to further discuss this was scheduled for late September The main argument of the large landowner are that wood debris brought down after a storm hides invasive species Whether the invasive species were a problem when the trees were alive is not discussed since the large landowner is only speculating and does not have scientific evidence that invasive species spontaneously invade when a tree is downed The main argument of the letter writer in support of the large landowner is that the large landowner burning wood does not cause any problems possibly because of the argument that the burning is done at a distance from other properties? RAWSEP interjects that the air pollution from wood burning moves as the air moves and when it is aloft PM Two point Five particulates incrementally pollute the air and incrementally contribute to hastening climate change as well as incrementally fill the air that moves freely containing particulates harmful to human health By the end of the August meeting the Council caved and agreed to allow bonfires at every time day or night instead of outlawing bonfires from 6 to 10 PM The power of the large landowner appeared to be effective in this small town at least in the already highly air polluted month of August Excerpts edited by Residents Against Wood Smoke Emission Particulates for brevity and clarity However per the discussion this week Berlin Maryland could add open burning back into its updated fire ordinance with strict parameters August 27 2026 The Berlin Maryland outdoor burning policy is going back to the drawing board after residents shared concerns that the proposed code revisions do not include an exception for large properties that need an efficient way to reduce yard and storm debris The Town of Berlin is looking to tighten its outdoor burning ordinance At the Monday night Town Council meeting the group held a public hearing and overhauled the proposed document before addressing citizen comments The revisions suggested this week polished the code language to clarify that open burning is not allowed in Berlin Maryland However after those edits residents asked that a pathway be carved out for large acreage parcels that rely on open burning to clear immense accumulations of yard debris or natural storm wreckage Councilman J O read a statement sent to him by another male resident TW who suggested how open burning exceptions may be handled Open burn permits could be made for properties over a certain size capped at four parcels a year He added that to guarantee safety first responders could be on site during the burn The proposed ordinance treats residents with a two foot brush pile the same as a property owner sitting on acres of wooded land who loses his trees every storm season J O said reciting the TW statement The people using the exception are exactly those we should permit A blanket ban punishes them to solve a problem they are not actually causing While the Monday discussion largely centered on open burning the council also agreed to axe language in the code that would limit recreational bonfires to 6 pm to 10 pm Bonfires would now be allowed anytime Because the council heavily modified the proposed outdoor burning ordinance Monday night the group agreed to table the document The Town attorney DG will revise the code with the council amendments and include a summary of how a provision may be incorporated to address the unique requirements of large parcels The code will return for a first reading at the Berlin Town Council meeting on September 14
8 Massachusetts heat pump Heat pump water heaters just keep getting better Canary Media Excerpts edited by Residents Against Wood Smoke Emission Particulates for brevity and clarity Heat pump water heaters have potential to be a logistical nightmare You are dealing with a plumber and then they have to coordinate with an electrician and they have to get separate quotes and pull the permits But Reservoir a new heat pump water heater startup has in house tradespeople and competitive pricing that includes installation A Massachusetts man had a Reservoir unit installed that cost him a little over Four Thousand Dollars after federal and local incentives The Boston based startup made a splash earlier this month when it announced it had raised Eight Million Dollars in seed funding to grow beyond its roughly One Hundred local installations Why choose a heat pump water heater? Heat pump water heaters are about three times as efficient as gas fired or electric resistance varieties cut planet warming emissions and often lower monthly utility bills Switching from a resistance system can save a household almost Twenty Three Thousand Dollars over the Fifteen year lifetime of the appliance Because they move heat instead of generating it heat pump water heaters act like air conditioners and can replace dehumidifiers saving homes with muggy basements hundreds of dollars each summer But the tech has yet to take off While Americans bought Five million electric water heaters in Two Thousand Twenty Five beating out the next most popular option gas fired only an estimated Two Hundred Fourteen Thousand were heat pump water heaters according to the decarbonization nonprofit New Buildings Institute The biggest barrier is cost Consider the difference in two products from leading manufacturer Rheem A Fifty gallon heat pump water heater has a list price of One Thousand Six Hundred Ninety Nine Dollars while a highly rated electric resistance model retails for just Seven Hundred Ninety Nine Dollars The installation cost for a heat pump version can be comparable to that for conventional systems adding another One to Four Thousand Dollars or more depending on factors like tank size the electrical readiness of a home and local labor costs The current U S President and the Republican led Congress have made transitioning to heat pump water heaters more expensive Last year they eliminated a Biden era federal tax credit that offered households a discount of up to Two Thousand Dollars on the appliance Some states cities and utilities continue to offer rebates on heat pump water heaters from One Hundred Fifty Dollars to a whopping Four Thousand Dollars Although heat pump water heaters typically plug into a Two Hundred Forty Volt outlet a few big brands Rheem A O Smith and G E Appliances now produce versions that conveniently use a normal One Hundred Twenty Volt socket They are less powerful but these options can work well for households of one to four people that would otherwise have to upgrade their electrical system Last year G E became the first to offer a product with a flexible voltage which experts say could make emergency replacements much easier While most heat pump water heaters need Four to Seven Hundred cubic feet of air around them from which to pull heat and put in the tank customers with tighter spaces can use what are known as split systems These models move the heat pump half of the water heater outdoors and leave the hot water tank indoors Manufacturer SanCO2 has sold such a product for years and this April A O Smith came out with its own offering This month Midea won a national competition for its split system prototype To help users save money more aggressively most manufacturers have created apps so that households can schedule their heat pump water heaters to use grid power when it is cheapest The appliances can also be set up to participate in local utility programs like the California Watter Saver that reward customers for turning down energy use when the grid is stressed However some users have reported glitches with some of these scheduling systems To reduce the onus on customers Reservoir and startup Cala Systems are embedding their products with onboard computers to automatically take advantage of cheap power The software of each company also learns how much hot water you need daily and at what times in order to deliver hot showers with minimal energy use Most heat pump water heaters have backup electric resistance elements to heat water in a flash but it is much more efficient to run the heat pump slowly and steadily over a few hours Cala Systems which has sold nearly Four Hundred units across Thirty Six states says it is been able to reduce use of the backup element from the typical Thirty Five Percent of the energy use of the appliance to just Seven Percent
9A Nevada wood smoke Clark County launches survey on residential wood burning habits FOX5 Vegas Clark County Division of Air Quality is launching a new study to track wood burning habits across southern Nevada 9B Nevada wood smoke Where There is Smoke Air Quality Launches BURN Survey Clark County wood burning as a potential source of air pollution in Southern Nevada Residents who own or use wood burning fireplaces or stoves outdoor
10 Oregon wood smoke You can taste the ash surviving in the wildfire smoke capital of America US news The Guardian His soul lives here among all this knotted wood People always tell me it is magical she says
11A Texas PM TWO POINT FIVE Lingering wildfire smoke prompts health questions in Waco KWTX PM TWO POINT FIVE This microscopic particle can enter the eyes travel deep into the lung that can irritate the airway trigger inflammation worsen 11B Texas PM TWO POINT FIVE Ross Fire smoke blankets parts of North Texas prompting air quality warnings WFAA TCEQ forecast shows the daily PM TWO POINT FIVE Air Quality Index reaching the middle of the Moderate range across parts of Dallas Fort Worth with the
12 Virginia PM TWO POINT FIVE New study finds proposed Cumberland gas plant is expected to cause Three to Seven premature deaths per year RAWSEP View This article is not about wood burning for home heating but the smaller PM Two point Five emission health problems accompanying gas plant CO2 emissions are described well in this article Excerpts edited by Residents Against Wood Smoke Emission Particulates for brevity and clarity Southern Environmental Law Center According to the report the estimated health impacts from exposure to fine particulate matter PM Two point Five include both premature death and a range of health problems Press Release August 28 2026 New study finds proposed Cumberland gas plant is expected to cause Three to Seven premature deaths and up to One Hundred Nineteen Million Dollars in economic damages annually RICHMOND Virginia A new study found that the Dominion Energy proposed gas plant in Cumberland County Virginia would impose significant health and associated financial costs not only on residents in Cumberland but those in surrounding counties and towns as well According to the report the estimated health impacts from exposure to fine particulate matter PM Two point Five include both premature death and a range of other diseases Fine particulates are one of the most harmful forms of air pollution in the world Gas fired power plants can be significant sources of this pollution The report shows that exposure to pollution from the gas plant is expected to result in Three to Seven premature deaths annually approximately Seven new cases of asthma Two Housand Four Hundred Thirty minor restricted activity days Four Hundred Ten days of lost work and other cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses hospital admissions and emergency room visits The estimated health impacts would amount to Sixty One to One Hundred Nineteen Million Dollars in economic damages each year Areas in Cumberland County and Powhatan County closest to the gas plant are estimated to see the greatest pollution increases and greatest risk to health Amelia and Goochland counties would also experience increased pollution and associated health impacts with effects extending as far as the City of Richmond This important study reinforces just how detrimental this huge gas fired power plant would be to public health in many central Virginia communities Residents in the areas of Cumberland and Powhatan Counties closest to the plant would experience the greatest increase in pollution but the health impacts and significant financial costs would spread to downwind localities too including communities in Chesterfield and Henrico Counties and the City of Richmond If built as planned the gas plant would be the largest in the state and the second largest in the nation This is just the latest source of pollution proposed in our community that will have a huge effect on those living nearby It also has broader impacts We are not only deeply concerned about our own people but also about the health of our neighbors in surrounding counties said a woman representative with community group Protect Cumberland The county Planning Commission has scheduled a special meeting and public hearing on the plan for 6 30 pm on August 31
13A Washington PM TWO POINT FIVE Ecology uses settlement funds to help reduce diesel pollution impacts and expand air monitoring in S Washington State Department of Ecology Diesel fueled vehicles produce a significant portion of the particulate matter PM Two point Five pollution we breathe These particles are so small Two Point Five micrometer 13B Washington wood smoke The Smoke from wildfires on its way out of western Washington YouTube
14 Canada Province of New Brunswick heat pump rebate New rebate for landlords could prove costly for tenants advocate warns Telegraph Journal heat pump water heaters and attic insulation The program has been billed by NB Power as a win and win for landlords who can expect more marketable properties AI Copilot Canada Province of New Brunswick RAWSEP View It does not necessarily follow that buying a Heat Pump will cause a landlord to raise the rent There can probably be added regulations along with this rebate to landlords that forbid raising the rent when a landlord receives a Heat Pump subsidy But if the landlord receives a subsidy for a Heat Source that is cheaper to run than an gas appliance why would getting a subsidy give the landlord have a legal reason to raise the rent? Since tenants cannot be expected to buy their own stationary heating appliances the rebate has to go to the landlord The word Safeguard is used here The Safeguard for tenants could be to write into the subsidy language that purchase of a Heat Pump cannot be used as an excuse to raise rent of tenants since the subsidy makes the purchase of a Heat Pump cost effective and saves money over time compared to fossil fuel or for example heating using wood burning or other solid fuel burning heating methods which are also costly to human health and which also shorten lives possibly even the life of the landlord Just insert the Safeguard that installing a Heat Pump cannot legally be called a major renovation justifying up to a Nine Percent Rent Increase Simple, no? The Guaranteed Benefit to renters and landlords alike is stopping harmful emissions linked to home heating and less actual costs to all for healthcare and early funerals Excerpts edited by Residents Against Wood Smoke Emission Particulates for brevity and clarity The New Brunswick NB Power Landlord Rebate Program Sparks Tenant Concerns NB Power has launched the Rental Owners Rebate Program offering financial incentives to landlords who make energy‑efficient upgrades to their rental properties The program is funded by NB Power and the provincial government with up to Twenty Five Million Dollars annually allocated and property owners including individuals corporations and non‑profits can receive up to Two Million Dollars per year with a maximum of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars per project Non‑profits qualify for higher incentives than private owners Concerns of Advocates Housing rights groups including ACORN warn that while the program may improve property efficiency it does not guarantee benefits to tenants Under the rent control laws of New Brunswick landlords can raise rents by no more than Three Percent annually but may seek up to Nine Percent increases for justified capital expenditures like major renovations Advocates fear landlords could use the program to justify higher rents effectively passing on the cost of upgrades to tenants Expert skepticism A Housing researcher with initials MH notes that landlords who do not cover the energy costs of tenants in leases may have little incentive to participate as they will not benefit from energy savings He also warns that the program could raise property values and property taxes potentially offsetting any affordability gains The NB Power position The company says the program benefits both landlords and tenants by improving home quality and efficiency and that rent increases are governed by provincial rules not the program itself However critics argue that without safeguards the initiative could widen the gap between energy‑efficient housing and affordability Key takeaway While the rebate program aims to promote energy efficiency housing advocates are calling for targeted incentives for low‑income tenants rather than broad landlord‑focused benefits to ensure that the climate‑friendly upgrades actually lower housing costs for renters
15 United Kingdom heat pump Government must prioritize heat pump installation to tackle climate chaos The Guardian Letter CH says the focus of Andy Burnham should be on drastically cutting fossil fuel use in a way that reduces bills and generates secure jobs 27 August 27 2026 Key to this must be a public commitment to rapidly get off gas This must prioritize a rapid nationwide program of increasing the installation of heat and cooling pumps in all properties Keir Starmer had an ill-thought-out policy to cut energy bills by dropping investment in energy saving. Letter from CH of the Green New Deal Group
16 Switzerland and Italy France and Korea Is That a Solar Farm or a Train Track? In One Swiss Town It is Both Excerpts edited by Residents Against Wood Smoke Emission Particulates The New York Times August 2026 Switzerland A pilot program placing solar panels between the rails has proven successful enough that the idea is spreading to Italy France and Korea A pilot program generated up to Sixteen megawatts of power while the panels remained undamaged even after Eleven Thousand passenger trains had passed above them More than Three Thousand miles of railways crisscross the Swiss countryside linking Alpine villages to big cities like Zurich and Geneva It is the most dense rail network in Europe Now a start-up company and a local rail operator have found a way to use that land to generate clean electricity Lay solar panels between the rails Starting last April in the village of Buttes the company Sun-Ways began running a test project on a short stretch of track Similar projects are now expanding to France Italy and South Korea The Trans N test covered only about the length of a football field of track If the technology were to be adopted across the national rail network of Switzerland Sun-Ways projects it could power as much as Thirty percent of the energy needs of Switzerland for public transportation France In February Two Thousand Twenty Six the French national railway company SNCF signed a partnership with Sun-Ways to evaluate the technology for French tracks which cover about Eighteen Thousand miles A solar panel is placed between train tracks The design enables the panels to be removed in about 10 minutes allowing fast access for repairs or other work Placing solar panels between the rails also prevents weeds from growing between train tracks which reduces maintenance South Korea The Sun-Ways design has also been picked up in South Korea where the government approved a two-year pilot last September to evaluate the technology Pistons In Buttes the Sun-Ways design uses solar panels that are pinned in place by pistons that press against the steel rails The concept of installing solar on railbeds had been explored in more than a dozen earlier patents But the current design uses pistons to hold the panels in place enabling them to be moved out of the way for maintenance by a single worker in about Ten minutes Increasingly decisions to expand solar generation are not constrained by technology or cost but rather by space Traditional ground-mounted solar farms can require two and a half acres of land to generate a single megawatt of power Building between rails and on top of existing infrastructure solves part of that problem Italy A license has been negotiated with Sun-Ways to launch a test project in Italy in Two Thousand Twenty Seven If Twenty percent of the railways of Italy or roughly Two Thousand Five Hundred miles of track were used for solar installations like these it would add up to One gigawatt of generating capacity enough to power up to a million homes Europe Switzerland and other countries across Europe are pushing to add renewables not only to meet new demand from the electrification of vehicles and to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions but also to bolster energy independence after the continent weathered an energy crisis wrought by the war in Ukraine in Two Thousand Twenty Two Most of the energy could be used by electric trains How can excess electricity be moved to other places where it could be used or fed into the grid? Energy could be lost during that transmission process A specialized electrical architecture might minimize those losses Cost could be partially offset because rail companies already own the land
17 Southeast Asia PM TWO POINT FIVE Effects of aqueous PM TWO POINT FIVE extract on developmental traits of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes Nature Seasonal biomass burning in Southeast Asia generates high concentrations of fine particulate matter PM Two point Five which can deposit into small aquatic
18A China PM TWO POINT FIVE Air pollution worsens disease activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis RA Nature Reviews Rheumatology Nature Higher levels of air pollution are associated with increased disease activity and flare risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritis according to 18B China PM TWO POINT FIVE PM Two point Five associated metals alter gene expression and erythropoiesis in CO COPD Dove Medical Press Annual exposures to particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to Ten Micrometers PM10 less than or equal to Two point Five Micrometers PM Two point Five nitrogen dioxide NO2 and nitrogen oxides NOx AI Overview PM Two point Five associated metals have been shown to significantly alter gene expression and affect erythropoiesis in individuals with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease COPD These changes can lead to various health complications particularly in patients with anemia Impact of PM Two point Five Associated Metals Research highlights several key effects of PM Two point Five associated metals Gene Expression Changes Exposure to PM TWO POINT FIVE metals can lead to alterations in immune gene expression impacting overall health Erythropoiesis Disruption These metals interfere with the production of red blood cells exacerbating anemia in COPD patients Health Complications The combination of altered gene expression and disrupted erythropoiesis can increase the risk of severe health issues in affected individuals