California Set To Enforce “Energy Efficiency” In Homes

Cash for saving energy? California considers this and first statewide green building code

USA Today
Wednesday, January 13, 2009

California, long a trendsetter for eco-friendly living, is breaking
ground again this week. It’s set, as early as today, to
adopt the nation’s first statewide green building code, which
environmentalists say is not tough enough, and is also considering
paying residents to cut their energy use.

On Monday, a state panel proposed that most of the new fees
California plans to impose on greenhouse-gas emissions be returned
to energy-saving consumers in the form of annual dividend checks that
eventually could exceed $1,000 for a family of four, the Wall Street Journal reports.

The story says this proposal is part of an effort to find the most efficient way to change consumer behavior.

California is expected today to adopt a  green
building code that would reduce water use, mandate the recycling of
construction waste and step up enforcement of energy efficiency in new
homes, schools, hospitals and commercial buildings, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Full story here.