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Dear Sharon:
Information is the key to reform. However, nothing really happens until governments
lubricate the lock or turn the key.
Communities have, at least, two great means of effecting change, building codes and
tax incentives.
Towns have the legal authority to increase the demands made upon builders in their
localities, over and above the state or county codes requirement, PROVIDED THAT SUCH
DEMANDS ARE BASED ON A REASONABLE BASIS. It is unquestionable, particularly in
Michigan, to demand that, in order to minimize the effect of weather, on all power
consumption, be it heating or cooling, new building permits will only be granted only if
plans show walls, ceilings, attics, ceilings, basements, pipes, windows and doors to
match or exceed specific insulation ratings. Additionally, minimum efficiency standards
are to be set for all appliances and lighting.
By the same token, towns can mandate some retrofitting on existing buildings,
BUT ONLY WHEN THEY AFFECT HEALTH AND/OR SAFETY (otherwise they are
"grandfathered"). Some older forms of insulation are fire hazards and others contain
lead or asbestos and are health hazards. In such cases, the FIRE MARSHAL can
appropriately conduct inspections, give notices of violation and reasonable time to
comply, assess fines and order condemnations for non compliance.
However, the most functional method of promoting retrofitting are tax incentives.
The safest and least revenue diminishing one being reducing the assessed property
value of the owner by the amount of money spent in retrofitting. This also has the
effect of not preventing retrofitting on the basis that the town will view it as an
improvement and increase the assessment on the property. Also, no charges are to
be had on retrofitting permits.
Today, and increasingly so, electric power is the most efficient and least expensive
form of energy and that there are means to cheaply increase home energy efficiency.
Therefore, it is also important that public education of things like demand water heaters,
silicone heating inserts, thermal barrier curtains, solar powered lights, fans, pumps and
other money and energy saving devices be on the town's agenda.
When the citizenry present this to the town council, it will be hard for the "powers at be"
not to implement.
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