Sunday, June 28, 2009

Cap-and-Tax Building Codes

We mentioned in passing that yes, indeed, Cap-and-Tax has a section which will supercede local building codes.

Samples? Sure.

Sets energy efficiency targets for the national building code: “on the date of enactment of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, 30 percent reduction in energy use relative to a comparable building constructed in compliance with the baseline code…effective January 1, 2014, for residential buildings, and January 1, 2015, for commercial buildings, 50 percent reduction in energy use relative to the baseline code; and…January 1, 2017...

...Requires that states and local governments comply with or exceed the national energy efficiency building code, and provides for enforcement mechanisms for states which are out of compliance

And then there's this:

"This section requires the Secretary of Energy to develop a Retrofit for Energy and Environmental Performance (REEP) program to facilitate building retrofit programs for energy efficiency and efficient water use. Funding will be made available through REEP to the State Energy Programs for state and local efforts, including audits, incentives, technical assistance, and training.

The red highlight is very interesting, indeed.

HT: Riehl

1 comment:

Beer, Bicycles and the VRWC said...

Unless they are planning to transport water from where it is to where it ain't, what is the point of "efficient water use"? At least in this region. I don't see how my water use along Lake Michigan is going to affect anyone else.

Regarding the whole thing, there is a "Uniform Building Code", but local governments have always had the last say. This turns it upside down.