Tougher Homes Needed in California
Good news. Here in California, the Building Standards Commission has adopted new residential construction codes intended to cut water usage and increase energy efficiency in new homes. The Commission intends to phase in these new “green” standards over the next three years.
This may not seem like much at first blush. The use of energy saving devices in and around the home is commonplace. But governments have been slow to adopt energy and water savings targets as part of new home building standards. A state regulatory agency has now finally acknowledged the need to explicitly require energy efficiency in new homes.
Influential real estate development groups lobby state governments heavily, and California is no exception. However many developers support green building standards in part because it helps boost their credentials as responsible public citizens. Perhaps standards which require fire resistant new homes in heavily forested areas will be the next step in selling this public interest first approach.
Unregulated Market: Tinderbox Homes
Real estate developers looking to make a quick buck in an unregulated market build new homes using the cheapest materials available. Then they market these homes as rustic log cabins in the country. After a firestorm blows through, homeowners are left with broken dreams and piles of smoldering rubble.
Incentive Driven Market: Fire Proof Homes
States should offer tax incentives to builders who use fire resistant materials in roofs and walls of new homes. Maintaining clear defensible space around homes in fire prone areas is still only a recommendation. Allowing unscrupulous builders to prey on unsuspecting customers hurts taxpayers and reputable real estate developers alike. It’s time to expect new homes built in the wilderness to withstand most wildfires.
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