The Growing Patchwork of Building Energy Regulations Is Making Compliance a Nightmare

Federal support for building energy reduction has largely dried up under the Trump administration, which has rolled back incentives and deprioritized sustainability programs. But rather than slowing the momentum toward building energy regulation, the federal retreat has accelerated a trend that’s making life increasingly complicated for property owners: a rapidly expanding patchwork of state and city regulations that vary dramatically in their requirements, metrics, and timelines.

Over 50 U.S. cities now enforce building energy requirements, with nine having enacted strict building performance standards that carry penalties ranging from $100 per day to $268 per ton of carbon emissions. States including California, Colorado, Washington, Massachusetts, and New York have implemented statewide programs. Cities from Seattle to Miami, from St. Louis to Boston, have their own local ordinances...

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RSK: Greater Madison does not have that problem yet, but being surrounded by other municipalities and villages it might not be long.

Ken Notes: Wouldn't a sound national policy that was cost effective yet made a real difference be nice. Oh the dreams we once had.