As many of you know energy and water conservation is something I am very passionate about.  Last November I wrote about how many groups including the Triangle Chapter of  the US Green Building Council were asking our NC lawmakers, specifically Gov. Perdue to support a new improved building code that would require higher energy efficiency in commercial and residential building.

This new code will mandate a 10-15% residential and 30% commercial energy efficiency improvement from current code.  In addition it will provide a  ”Higher Efficiency Residential Option”  HERO Appendix to give guidance and recognition to builders that choose to build a home 15 – 20% more energy efficient than the new minimums.

The new NC Energy Conservation Code was voted on and approved by the NC Building Code Council on December 14 2010. The planned effective date of the 2010 NC Energy Conservation Code is January 1, 2012, but it still has to gain support  and be passed by lawmakers so there is no delay.

I spent the morning of Wednesday February 16th at the Legislative Building speaking with Senators and Representatives from our state and listening to various takes on why they think the new code is a positive move or a negative move.

There are a few lawmakers, which I won’t quote because I did not get explicit permission to do so, who feel that the code changes are long over due and that the efforts from 2006 and 2009 by the International Energy Conservation Code should have been acted upon sooner.

There are others however, on both sides of the isle, that think this is not the time to be bringing more regulations to an industry that has been hit hard already and is struggling to stabilize.

Being in real estate since 2003 and licensed since 2001 I have seen the market shift and trends come and go. What I see right now are more and more buyers asking about energy efficient homes that are built in the 250k price range and below.  There are some builders already building energy efficient homes one of which is a non-profit called Builders of Hope that have seen more activity and have sold more homes than most builders in the area. One of their agents told me that they sometimes have homes under contract even before there is a home on the lot. That is not typical of the industry at this time. This tells me that buyers are interested in buying green/energy efficient homes.  Now is THE TIME TO ACT and support the 2010 Energy Conservation Code especially because the activity has picked up. Buyers that are ready to buy are looking for smart homes not in the largest homes money can buy.  Another reason to support the 2012 NCECC now is that builders are going to start building  more  since the market seem to be picking up. Why not make those new homes as energy efficient as possible? Why not get a head start and help NC stand out and become a leader in this initiative?

I believe if we do this we will attract more conservation/alternative energy/green companies into our state resulting in more green jobs. We have the technology and we have the schools to do the research so let’s use our resources wisely.  I know it sounds too simplistic but we have to start somewhere and if we don’t let our lawmakers know what we support then they will only hear from the associations that tell them that the building and real estate industries won’t be able to survive this much needed change. The reality is that this is a change that is coming whether or not we want it to.

Here are the BENEFITS listed by USGBC in support of the new code

Benefit to Homeowners and Commercial Building Owners

• NCECC is projected to save more than $40 million annually in energy bills.

Benefits to Economy

• Utility savings equal more money for homeowners to spend locally
• In this economy, the promise of a well-performing home is a true incentive to a potential home-buyer. ( and will influence their buying decision)

Benefits to North Carolina

• Adopting the 2012 NCECC is a smart approach to the state’s long-term economic and environmental stability.
• Buildings represent 40% of all NC Energy consumption.

Benefits to Green Schools

• The NCECC would ensure that K-12 schools be built for long-term utility cost savings and enhance student and staff performance.
• The USGBC also strongly supports a state green school caucus.

The key is to build in areas people want to live in, in a price range people what to buy, leave out some bells and whistles that can be added later by the buyer if they choose to do so, and  invest in making homes that are less expensive to maintain, heat and cool and are healthier to live in. I think MOST buyers would go for a  house like that don’t you?