Clean Air and Lower Bills: The Case for Heat Pump Water Heaters

    Heat pump water heaters are rapidly becoming a popular choice — and for good reason. These clean, efficient systems replace polluting methane gas water heaters in our homes. When I had to replace mine in 2023, I chose a heat pump model. My utility bill went down thanks to its high efficiency, and I know I'm helping reduce harmful air pollution. 

    According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, gas prices are expected to continue rising even as renewable energy — an increasing share of our electricity — becomes cheaper. A January 2025 report by the California Heat Pump Partnership also found that sales of heat pump water heaters surged in 2023 as more Californians learned about their benefits.

    The health toll of air pollution on our hearts and lungs prompted our regional Air District to phase out, beginning in 2027, water heaters that emit nitrogen oxides — because pollutants harm our health. That means when it's time to replace your old water heater, you'll need to install a clean, high-efficiency heat pump water heater.

    Admittedly, the transition isn't always smooth. My own installation was more complicated and cost a bit more than a gas replacement. But each year, it's getting easier. Newer 120-volt models, for example, are simpler and cheaper to install.

    Unfortunately, gas companies and their allies are now working to overturn the Air Districts rules phasing out methane gas to protect their profits. Don't be misled — do your own research and learn why so many homeowners are making the switch.

    Ask yourself: What kind of future do you want for your family and community? Cleaner air, fewer health problems, and a more stable climate? If so, supporting heat pump water heaters and HVAC systems is a powerful step toward that future.

    All of us — especially children, older adults, and those with chronic illnesses — deserve clean air. Your choices at home, and your support for the Air District's appliance standards, help lead us toward a brighter, healthier tomorrow.

Marti Roach
Moraga

Rising housing costs and limited housing options in Lamorinda

    I've lived in Lamorinda long enough to notice the sharp rise in housing prices. The increased cost of living has made it extremely difficult for young families to live here. This isn't just an unfortunate trend. It's a structural problem that's reshaping our community. 

    A major reason for this is that our housing supply has barely changed while demand has rapidly increased over the last decade. Lafayette, Orinda, and Moraga continue to almost exclusively build large single-family homes. Additionally, complex environmental regulations in the state and especially in the East Bay have led to high costs and delays, inhibiting developers from adding new homes to the market. When zoning limits the types of housing we allow, and regulations drive up development costs, demand shifts onto the limited homes that already exist, pushing prices even higher. This has been a serious problem impacting teachers, first responders, young professionals, and longtime residents hoping to downsize.

    The consequences of these policies are already visible. Schools struggle to hire local staff, workers are pushed into long commutes because they can't afford to live near their jobs, and young adults increasingly find they cannot return to the town where they were raised. Many older residents are forced out as they downsize, weakening the character of the community. 

    This doesn't mean changing everything about Lamorinda or building anything extreme. It simply requires allowing more flexibility in our community. Streamlining some of our environmental and zoning rules is crucial in addressing one of the biggest challenges our area faces today. 
Duplexes, townhomes, and condominiums would fit the scale of our neighborhoods. These types of housing already exist here in small numbers, but to meaningfully increase affordability, we need to scale up their development.

    If we value a diverse, multigenerational community, then we need to make room for it. Thoughtful, modest changes to our housing and permitting process would have meaningful benefits. Families will stay close, commute times will shorten, and young people will be able to see a future for themselves in Lamorinda.

Dillon Nagar
Lafayette

Affordable senior housing 

Orinda’s Mayor, Latika Malkani, actually voted against affordable senior housing in downtown Orinda. Let that sink in. Public Hearing was held on Nov. 18, 2025. She opposed affordable senior housing, even though there was no cost to the City. Affordable senior housing downtown has been one of the highest priorities of the residents, as expressed in multiple surveys over the years. Why did Mayor Malkani oppose it? Because, as she explained at the hearing, the affordable housing would be built without any requirement for union labor. Her law practice consists of representing labor unions. Labor unions contributed to her
campaign.

    As explained at the meeting, there was a bid using union labor and paying prevailing wages of $43 million, a bid using a mix of union and non-union of $34 million, and a bid using non-union labor of $28 million. The differences are largely accounted for by different labor rates of $70/hour for union vs. around $35–40/hour for non-union. The Foundation building the housing had expected a $10 million donation that fell through, creating a larger financing gap, making the non-union bid necessary to keep the project financially feasible. Mayor Malkani acknowledged that the project “had to” get built but expressed concern about whether the workers would be able “to support their families.” She could not, apparently, understand that a requirement for union labor would result in the project not getting built and no one getting paid. Fortunately, the other four members of the City Council voted in favor, and the matter passed 4-1.

Nick Waranoff
Orinda