SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Starting in November 2017, Utah residents buying a new water heater or replacing their old will soon be required to pay more to purchase a type that emits less nitrogen oxide.
The new rule was passed Aug. 2 by the Utah Air Quality Board in a move aimed at reducing wintertime pollution.
The Salt Lake Tribune reports that Joel Karmazyn, an environmental scientist with the Utah Division of Air Quality, says officials project the rule will lead to a 35-percent reduction in nitrogen oxide by 2024. Nitrogen oxide is a main ingredient in a chemical mix that causes air pollution.
Ross Ford, executive officer of the Utah Home Builders Association, says his group supports efforts to reduce pollution. But, he's not convinced these new types of water heaters will lead to the changes regulators are expecting.