Come 2014, California will by, unanimous decision by the California Energy Commission (CEC), require 25% more efficiency in their built structures. Under the new law, separating residential from non-residential buildings, all roofs must be solar-panel ready, hot water pipes must be insulated, and air conditioner installations must be approved by an independent inspector. More recommendations to reach the new energy threshold include whole-house fans, using windows with a solar heat gain coefficient of 0.25 and increasing wall insulation. How much will this cost you? Its estimated to cost an average of $2,900 per house, but save the homeowners $6,200 over the life of a 30-year mortgage. CEC anticipates that the new standards will save 200 milliongallons of water and 170,500 tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year. It also anticipates that the standards will add up to 3,500 new building industry jobs.
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