…Homeowners Beware of Climate Change Regulations…
The UK’s Climate Change Committee published its “Sixth Carbon Budget” that included energy efficiency requirements for homes. These requirements included:
“A proposal that the sale of properties be banned from 2028 unless they score at least a grade C in an energy performance certificate (EPC)”.
Reportedly, this would make millions of UK homes unsalable because they could not meet the mandatory standards.
This same type of requirement was included in the American Clean Energy and Security Act, HR 2454, passed by the House in 2009. Fortunately, the Senate rejected the Bill.
Note the references to “Clean Energy Jobs”, and “Transition to a Clean Energy Economy”.
These same messages are being touted today.
HR 2454 provides a lesson for every American.
The pertinent section in HR 2454, was on page 296:
TITLE II—ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Subtitle A—Building Energy Efficiency Programs
This section required the establishment of energy efficiency requirements in building codes.
It established that:
“The Secretary may by rule establish a national building code energy efficiency target for residential or commercial buildings.”
Title II read, in part:
(A) effective 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;
(B) 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
(C) effective January 1, 2017, for residential buildings, and January 1, 2018, for commercial buildings, and every 3 years thereafter, respectively, through January 1, 2029, and January 1, 2030, 5 percent additional reduction in energy use relative to the baseline code.
It went on to require each state to certify that at least 80% of buildings met the required standards and that each state establish enforcement regulations.
States not in compliance would have federal funds withheld.
States may also set and collect inspection fees [from homeowners].
HR 2454 went on to establish enforcement programs:
“The Administrator shall establish a building energy performance labeling program with broad applicability to the residential and commercial markets to enable and encourage knowledge about building energy performance by owners and occupants and to inform efforts to reduce energy consumption nationwide.”
This section included the labeling of homes as to whether they met the energy efficiency requirements.
If you owned a home that didn’t meet these efficiency requirements it would be recorded somewhere, and real state agents would be required to make it known to potential buyers.
What person would buy a home that didn’t meet the energy efficiency standards?
Under HR 2454, you, the Homeowner, would not have been able to sell your home if it didn’t meet the energy efficiency requirements established by the federal government.
If the UK is initiating such a program now, is there any reason why Congress won’t establish a similar program?
The house passed such a provision in 2009, why wouldn’t it pass a similar provision in 2021?
. . .
(36)
My understanding of the UK bill is that it not only requires a minimum amount of home insulation, but also requires replacing any fossil fuel consuming unit, like heat pumps for gas boilers.
Heat pumps and electric heaters are quite inefficient in cold climates, like northern US.
Thanks for the added information