Reducing Energy Consumption and Carbon Emissions Through Building Code Reform

As Edward Mazria explores in his piece, "Oh, those sexy building codes," the real key to both reducing energy consumption and dependent carbon emissions in the U.S. is tackling the problem in the small scale. Mazria demonstrates, with projected data, how the building code requirements of Section 201 of the Waxman-Markey bill (H.R. 2454, American Clean Energy and Security Act) would have a greater impact on carbon emissions than would building 100 nuclear power plants. The nuclear plants would reduce carbon emissions; however, those plants would merely serve as a replacement for other energy sources and not affect actual energy consumption.

On the other hand, Mazria's article reveals an opportunity to dramatically impact both energy consumption and carbon emissions. The built environment is in constant flux, and Mazria states that between now and 2050, 75% of the current built environment will have either been renovated or rebuilt. According to Mazria, assigning energy requirements to each of these projects will, in concert, reduce both energy consumption and carbon emissions by close to 50% of current projections by 2050.

Mazria's article illustrates a point that I made in my initial post discussing the concept of sustainability. Effective change at a small scale is much simpler and much more accessible at this time than a top-down, heavy-handed regulation scheme. The key, of course, to that statement is quantity. Individual decision makers must be convinced of the benefits - economics, environmentalism, morality, publicity, self-satisfaction, etc. - of making a sustainability decision in order for the concerted effort to be effective. To mandate that decision, to some extent, is certainly one solution, as is offering tax breaks, energy rebates, mortgage benefits, or other incentives. Ideally, an individual would examine her role in and her effect on her community and make decisions that are as mutually beneficial as possible. But, if some mandatory encouragement is necessary to spur such thinking, I can live with that.