PORTLAND, Maine—With the cost of heating fuel at near-record levels, the Legislature is poised to take up two proposals intended to promote energy efficiency for newly constructed homes.
One measure introduced Thursday calls for adoption of a statewide uniform building code together with energy-efficiency standards. Maine is the only New England state without such mandatory standards for new homes.
The other proposal, backed by environmentalists and some home builders, would establish minimum standards for insulation and energy-saving windows while providing tax incentives for new homes built to save even more energy.
Conservationists say the statewide code would save homeowners money and reduce global warming pollution from the burning of heating fuel.
"We believe that people deserve to know that their home meets some minimum standard," said Dylan Voorhees of the Natural Resources Council of Maine.
The proposed standards are considered a minimum and are not expected to make homes less affordable to buy. But supporters say they would make some homes more affordable to live in by holding down heating costs.
Whether the proposals face opposition remains to be seen. In the past, the Maine Municipal Association has expressed concern about the cost and enforcement burden on the many towns that have no building codes or code enforcement officers.
The uniform code proposal before the Legislature would set up a system to train and register private inspectors, who could be hired by builders to certify that new homes meet the standards.
Ashley Richards, owner of construction and insulation businesses in Westbrook and vice president of the Homebuilders and Remodelers Association of Maine, is among builders who support the efforts to make homes more energy efficient.
"If you use a better product and install it properly, you will actually be putting money in your pocket," Richards said. "The rest of the country is 20 years ahead of Maine."
The bill calling for energy efficiency standards was submitted this week by Sen. Philip Bartlett, D-Gorham. The proposed uniform building code was introduced Thursday in a report from the State Planning Office and other agenices and is expected to become the basis of a separate bill.
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Information from: Portland Press Herald, http://www.pressherald.com
