Home Energy Cost Relief for Consumers Falls Short
CHICAGO, Sept. 26 /PRNewswire/ — The International Code Council (ICC) (http://www.iccsafe.org/) earlier this week voted on The 30% Solution, a comprehensive proposal to increase the nation’s residential energy efficiency codes by 30 percent, which could save new homeowners an average of $500 annually.
The Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA) (http://www.mwalliance.org/) worked diligently to advance the full The 30% Solution package only to see it fall just a few votes short of the two-thirds majority needed for passage, after becoming mired in cumbersome proceedings. This set into motion a series of votes on incorporating provisions of the measure into the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), America’s model energy code. While the ICC did adopt some of the provisions, the expected energy efficiency gains will be far less than what could have been achieved.
“We welcome the efficiency advances that were incorporated into the International Energy Conservation Code. However, we are disappointed that even with a significant majority of code officials voting to support the full package to boost residential energy efficiency by 30 percent, The 30% Solution fell victim to an overly restrictive approval process,” states Wendy Jaehn, Executive Director, Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance. “Homes are among the last great frontiers of wasted energy in this country, using 20 percent of the energy we consume. Passage of The 30% Solution would have saved consumers an average of $500 a year on future home energy expenditures, while stimulating market demand for energy efficiency products, services and expertise, and substantially reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”
MEEA’s support of The 30% Solution aligns with the organization’s mission to promote energy efficiency as the fastest, most cost effective way to:
— Combat rising energy costs and global climate change — Stimulate sustainable economic growth — Help ensure our nation’s energy security
Supported by a $200,000 grant from The Energy Foundation, MEEA reached out to and educated ICC members throughout the Midwest. “Even though the ICC process blocked the majority support for increasing the energy efficiency standards by 30 percent, MEEA will continue to promote and advance increased energy efficiency standards to states throughout the Midwest,” notes Stacey Paradis, Director of External Relations, Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance. “Consumers are struggling with increased energy costs and wasted energy usage is having a negative impact on the economy. It is time for all stakeholders to come together and set standards that will save energy and save money for consumers.”
About MEEA — The Source for Energy Efficiency
The Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (http://www.mwalliance.org/) is a collaborative network advancing energy efficiency in the Midwest to support sustainable economic development and environmental preservation. MEEA fosters market penetration of existing energy-efficient technologies and promotes new technologies, processes and best practices. MEEA unites energy service companies, energy utilities, consultants, manufacturers, nonprofit organizations, state and local governments and academic and research institutions around the common goal of advancing energy efficiency in the Midwest.
The Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
CONTACT: Stacey Paradis of The Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance,+1-312-587-8390, ext. 12, cell, +1-312-339-0187, sparadis@mwalliance.org
Web site: http://www.mwalliance.org/http://www.iccsafe.org/