If you designed or built a home that met energy code just a few years ago, that same home will probably not be legal to build just a few years from now. Some might say it’s about time, while others may think it’s not a good idea to increase code requirements during a depressed housing economy. — blog.rmi.org
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Studies have shown that code updates are one of the single biggest drivers of energy savings in housing stock. In some states it is mandated in the law that code be updated on a regular schedule, but in Oregon, we're thinking of skipping a cycle, because our code is already pretty good.
Looking at that map, I'd hate to live in North Dakota... northern climate zone without a statewide energy code? Scary...
Hi Emily....ya but North Dakota has the "black crude boom" going on. From what I hear it is fricking crazy. I have read some pretty crazy stories, like there is a Chevrolet dealer in North Dakota who sells more Corvettes than any where else in the Country. Aside from that the Locals are reasonable individuals....an know it is going to be Cold enough to freeze to death so they most likely build better most states. Oh ya if you looking for a young hard body hunk, North Dakota is the place to be....Check out the man to woman ratio in Dickenson....and the average age. Actually my cousins son has a business up there involved with enviromental testing and clean up.
I think the depressed economy and increasingly stringent residential energy regulations will be a good thing, depending of course, on how the language has been written in the code book.
The incentive to cut costs for a larger wary population will lead to better business models and archi & constr details for the next leg of development towards sustainability.
Also, the reduction in residential mass production should help push estate values closer to their inflated prices to ease the market. In California, it is estimated there are enough houses to not need to construct any until 2030! If that's not bad enough, all the bloody houses are not even scraping the surface meeting 2030's regulatory framework on energy!
"while others may think it’s not a good idea to increase code requirements during a depressed housing economy"
The fact of the matter is that residential energy codes have lagged behind every other building type for over 30 years. Residential buildings consume 22% of total U.S. energy and yet this sector is the only one that hasn't see a stabilization or reduction in energy consumption per capita. One of the main issues is that for the most part, aside from minor changes in the way homes are built, construction methods for homes haven't changed in 30 years. Since the 1950's, the amount of sf per person has tripled!
If there's one thing that really gets me down, its builders who automatically assume that making a home more energy efficient has to cost more, or they use the fact that the homes they build are "greener" to warrant a premium. We have to stop thinking that we can take the same methods that we currently have, slap on better windows and use LED light bulbs and call it a success. Heating and cooling are between 40-60% of residential energy use, depending on what zone you live in; until we really change the way that we build homes, to reduce HVAC energy loads, we aren't going to see a significant reduction in energy use.
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