Marylanders can’t wait for healthy air
The Moore administration must finalize Clean Heat Rules for home heating equipment to deliver healthier air for all while reducing energy costs.
Millions of Maryland residents live with unhealthy air. Baltimore’s air pollution in particular has consistently violated federal air quality standards under the Clean Air Act. Fossil fuel heating equipment is a major driver of this pollution – costing Marylanders $1.3 billion in health impacts annually.
Healthier communities are within reach. Governor Wes Moore and his Department of the Environment have the opportunity to promote healthier air, stabilize energy bills, and save lives by advancing Clean Heat Rules to help residents upgrade to clean and efficient home heating equipment. When combined with reforms already underway, these rules can clean up our air and deliver healthier, more affordable home heating.
THE PROBLEM
Pollution from fossil fuel furnaces, boilers, and water heaters in Maryland generates:
as much smog-forming NOx pollution as all the state’s power plants combined
billion in health costs each year
premature deaths and 3,500 asthma attacks in 2017 alone
People of Color in Maryland are exposed to 60% more pollution from methane gas furnaces than white Marylanders.
THE solution
Clean Heat Rules for Maryland
Setting Clean Heat Rules for space and water heating equipment can protect public health while also lowering household energy bills.
It’s time for the Maryland Department of the Environment to finalize Clean Heat Rules.
What Are Heat Pumps?
Heat pumps are highly efficient systems that do the work of both a furnace and an air conditioner, keeping Marylanders warm in the winter and cool during the summer. Unlike furnaces and boilers that burn methane gas or oil, heat pumps use electricity to move heat in and out of your home more efficiently, delivering comfort with lower bills.
Heat pumps are increasingly popular in Maryland because of their greater efficiency -- remaining up to three times more efficient than gas furnaces even in Maryland's winter weather -- providing energy savings for consumers. By 2030, more than 50% of Maryland households are on track to adopt heat pumps.
What are the benefits of heat pumps?
Healthy Air
By phasing out the use of polluting equipment, Maryland leaders can deliver healthier air for every community.
Safer Communities
By promoting policies that help households upgrade to zero-emissions equipment, Maryland can protect residents from the risk of gas leaks or explosions.
Lower Bills
Maryland residents can stabilize their bills by upgrading to high-efficiency heat pumps. For residents who rely on outdated, expensive technologies like electric resistance, propane, and heating oil, heat pumps can deliver even deeper savings.
Greater Resilience
Thirty people in Maryland died as a result of extreme heat in 2025, the highest number in more than a decade. Heat pumps are 24% more efficient than standard AC, meeting a critical need to keep residents safe and cool in their homes without breaking the bank.