Renewable energy workers are paying attention to recent energy code discourse. Many cities are pulling back when strict regulations used to be the industry standard. The changes align with rising building operations prices. How does this impact generators like solar, geothermal and wind, especially during an era of federal pushes for expansion?
Examples of Recent Setbacks
The National Multifamily Housing Council and the National Association of Home Builders drafted a report in 2022. It suggested code changes were the most influential driver of costs, leading many states to examine their code development strategies.
States like North Carolina have a reputation for subpar building codes. In 2023, the General Assembly stopped at nothing to freeze code adjustments until 2031. Failure to update them makes oversight optional and technological integrations nearly impossible. The codes the state will run on are sparse with environmental, modern structural considerations, like eco-friendly insulation and safety inspections.
Michigan is following a similar train of thought. The Home Builders Association fears a proposal to update building codes would increase home costs by an average of $20,000. The issue became so publicized that the federal government became involved. It asserted to the state that homes will have higher utility costs if they neglect to update codes. Additionally, they would eliminate eligibility for funding from programs like the Inflation Reduction Act.
The Impact on Renewable Energy Workers
Renewable energy workers need building codes to advance so modern homes and retrofits can safely integrate the technology. Without adjustments, a house’s electrical and structural foundation will not consider renewable’s needs. Clean electricity adoption may come to a screeching halt without advocacy from more states to pursue strict code revisions.
Many efforts to prevent advancements come down to money. The housing market is already a primary concern for most U.S. citizens, and states fear refreshed building codes will make matters worse. A home fit with modern building codes will receive a modern price tag, which will be out of many Americans’ budgets.
Preventing legislation from passing will put green power employees out of work, delaying climate change mitigation. Reaching carbon neutrality and objectives set forth by promises such as the Paris Agreement becomes more challenging, especially when buildings account for copious greenhouse gas emissions.
Implications for the Future
Today’s discourse brands building codes as an economic conversation, when it is not. The more states push back on these updates, the more blurred the lines will be for renewable energy workers. Building codes are not only for new technological adoption — they are for safety. Residents need more holistic codes considering novel threats.
Old building styles do not account for newly discovered pollutants impacting indoor air quality or the danger of antiquated building materials. For example, blower doors and air sealing on doors are better at protecting homes because of advanced codes. People advocating for freezes are suggesting people are fine with living in unsafe conditions, but the majority of conversations focus on how renewable energy will inflate prices.
Many legislators and renewable energy professionals have worked tirelessly over the years to drive prices down. The goal is to make equipment affordable to decarbonize the building sector as fast as possible. Avoiding building code updates delays necessary cost conversations that could make everything from solar panels to heat pumps more accessible.
The resistance will impact the nation on a global scale too. The nation will continue to fall behind on international climate agreements, quickly losing competitive advantage and carbon reductions. The blueprint offered by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy says raising minimum codes is required for price regulation and low-carbon tech. Contradicting language from other sources will cause this document to become obscure.
The Intersection of Renewable Assets and Building Codes
Renewable energy expansion will not come to fruition without advanced building codes. Structures will not be able to support modern technologies, and workers will have to settle on installing fossil fuel-based utilities. The implications of these delays are exponential, exacerbating environmental damages and endangering U.S. citizens unless people advocate for code updates and clean power
