GreenTechMedia provides an interesting article about where things currently stand with the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) code adoptions around the country in lieu of the Federal Government’s offering back in 2009 of state energy program funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. All 50 states pledged to increase energy efficiency in buildings by implementing codes that met or exceeded the 2009 IECC and the 2007 ASHRAE 90.1 standard for houses and commercial facilities, respectively, and also develop a plan to achieve compliance within 8 years in at least 90 percent of new and renovated residential and commercial buildings. Chris Dorsi, founder of Habitat X, a North American sustainable-housing think tank, says that though “patchwork” code adoption has been a challenge in terms of getting states on board with current energy codes, compliance among builders has been more of a concern. “If a manufacturer of consumer goods in the U.S. engaged in this type of willful negligence, they’d surely end up in court. But the housing industry gets away with it. It’s as if we have a Volkswagen-type scandal in our midst,” said Dorsi. Sounds a little extreme, but he makes a point. Point being, that maybe across-the-board change lies in raising the bar through consumer education and ultimately demand. Hmm … Read More >
