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A statewide rule change may cause long-term effects on the environment.
Apparently, NC isn’t prioritizing green living anymore. Over the summer, the NC legislature ruled the state’s Building Code Council will no longer have the authority to change residential building standards, instead putting the power in the hands of the newly established Residential Code Council.
In turn, “homes and buildings in NC cannot be required to be more energy-efficient, freezing changes to the already antiquated building code until 2031,” explains REdesign.build founder/designer Will Alphin, the man behind new sustainable homes Tower Raleigh.
In short, licensed professionals in the industry—think developers, builders, architects, engineers—no longer have pressure to adhere to building-code minimums to guide their decisions. So, while the industry may save money initially, occupants will pay the ultimate price, spending more on energy costs over time—never mind the toll on the climate. The impact this will have is huge, emphasizes Alphin, considering the ongoing influx of new construction throughout the state. And over the long term, he adds, “we spend more by not [constructing] energy-efficient buildings.”
Despite the ruling, there’s a “green” flag in local sustainable efforts. According to Alphin, there looks to be an uptick in “plug-and-play” solar energy equipment that allows home and business owners to install their own systems—as opposed to relying on third-party providers. “It’s plain ole’ common sense to conserve whenever you can,” he stresses.
Banking on that idea, the environmentally friendly designer is continuing to push out net-zero homes and structures, with his most recent projects including four net-zero abodes as part of the Tower Raleigh project, a grid-free farming facility designed to utilize only the energy it produces, and a renovated/expanded building in Downtown that will ultimately be net-zero.
Tower Raleigh serves up sustainable living in the form of net-zero homes in the heart of Raleigh, offering more options for green living in the face of lowered state focus on sustainability standards.
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