Block’s Indicator of Sustainable Growth

by Ray Block 

Residential and commercial buildings account for almost 39 per cent of total US energy consumption, with residential 21 per cent and commercial 18 per cent. Buildings represent a high 38 per cent of US carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

US greenhouse gas emissions by sector in 2007 was made up of residential and commercial 11 per cent, agriculture 7 per cent, industrial 20 per cent, transportation 28 per cent and electricity 34 per cent.

By including buildings in the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACTS), the aim is to make new homes to be 30 per cent more energy efficient than mandated in the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code.

That percentage increases to 50 per cent by 2014, and then increases 5 per cent every three years. The initial 30 per cent is to be effective on the enactment of ACES.

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) says the higher energy standards are “simply too far too fast. The market is not geared up to supply the necessary materials and equipment, and that’s going to drive up costs. The result will be fewer working class families in these new energy efficient homes. They’ll be relegated to older, less efficient housing stock and face ever higher utility bills.”

The industry association wants Congress to scale back the higher energy standards to a 30 per cent increase in residential energy efficiency by 2012.

The legislation also requires commercial buildings to be 30 per cent more eenergy efficient on the enactment of ACES, and then to be 50 per cent more efficient by January 2015.

A 5 per cent additional energy efficiency is required in new residential buildings by January 2017, and in new commercial buildings by January 2018.Every three years thereafter, an additional 5 per cent energy efficiency is required up to January 2029 for residential buildings and January 2030 for commercial buildings.