You're watching...
Controversy over California's green standards for new homes
Details
-
Description
Golden State paves way for energy efficiency, but is it coming at a financial toll?
- Duration 2:15
- Date Jun 14, 2012
You're watching...
Golden State paves way for energy efficiency, but is it coming at a financial toll?
Also in this playlist...
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advanceThis transcript is automatically generated
-- -- -- going green in California as he had to peruse the toughest standards for new homes in the nation.
California's requiring things like solar ready roofs claiming they will save homeowners money in the long run.
Even -- it adds thousands to the initial cost of the home.
Not every one as you can imagine is on board with some of these ideas Claudia Cowan live in San Francisco Claudia.
John California once again -- -- regulations to pursue -- greener environment this time with new rules for builders.
Starting in 2014 new homes must have solar ready rooftops hot water pipe insulation.
And an inspector has to come on out and make sure the air conditioner was installed right.
New buildings must have improved temperature controls sensor lights your windows and those solar -- -- as well.
Now some homebuyers may never want solar panels even so state energy officials argue they have an obligation to require such upgrades.
Features they claim will make life better for every one.
We're lowering energy -- saving people money increasing comfort reducing pollution.
And helping the state provide reliable energy to people in California.
But not everyone sees the new guidelines as a good thing some industry groups say it will mean higher construction costs just as many Californians are reeling from the recession.
Others claim the new technologies are based on quote flawed data and -- science.
And one group says the regulations in place now are not fairly enforced.
And that really harms the market because you have those two.
Corporations.
Contractors.
Distributors and others.
-- -- following the rules.
-- than others that are not in there put at a competitive disadvantage it's.
But take a look at this state of the art house that we saw in Sacramento -- commissioner Douglas argued the upgrades do save energy and money through lower utility bills over time.
And she says she hopes the new roofing requirement encourages more homeowners to go solar and give a boost to the State's growing solar industry.
John could cost a lot more though to get those houses built that way -- count -- well.