Climate-change bills would affect apartments.THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES passed comprehensive energy and climate change legislation June June: see month. 26 by a narrow seven-vote majority. The 946-page bill would cap U.S. greenhouse gas greenhouse gas n. Any of the atmospheric gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect. greenhouse gas emissions, cut emissions 17 percent and require states to get 20 percent of their electricity from renewable sources and improved efficiency. In addition to having economy-wide effects on energy costs and supply, The American American, river, 30 mi (48 km) long, rising in N central Calif. in the Sierra Nevada and flowing SW into the Sacramento River at Sacramento. The discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill (see Sutter, John Augustus) along the river in 1848 led to the California gold rush of Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (HR 2454), or Waxman-Markey bill, includes a Title that specifically targets building efficiency. The section provides incentives for retrofits of existing buildings as well as several troubling building code-related mandates. Following are key building-related provisions: * National Energy Efficiency Code (Sec. 201). Establishes a national building code that must be 30 percent more efficient than existing codes by 2010 and 50 percent more efficient by 2014, and also federalizes building code enforcement Code Enforcement is the act of enforcing a set of s, principles, or laws (especially written ones) and insuring observance of a system of norms or customs. An authority usually enforces a civil code, a set of rules, or a body of laws and compel those subject to their authority to . NAA/NMHC and other real estate organizations are opposed the measure because of the unreasonably tight timeframes for achieving the levels of efficiency and the usurpation Usurpation Adonijah presumptuously assumed David’s throne before Solomon’s investiture. [O.T.: I Kings 1:5–10] Anschluss Nazi takeover of Austria (1938). [Eur. Hist. of states' roles in the code process. * Building Retrofit ret·ro·fit v. ret·ro·fit·ted or ret·ro·fit, ret·ro·fit·ting, ret·ro·fits v.tr. 1. To provide (a jet, automobile, computer, or factory, for example) with parts, devices, or equipment not in Program (Sec. 202). Creates a Retrofit for Energy and Environmental Performance (REEP) funding program, administered by the states, that would offer up to $3,000 to help offset the costs of retrofitting properties to make them more energy efficient. Although the provision encompasses all multifamily housing buildings, funds are strictly limited and priority is given to public and assisted housing. * Water Conservation Incentives (Sec. 217). Creates an incentive program for single-family and multifamily housing buildings to use water-efficient plumbing plumbing, piping systems inside buildings for water supply and sewage. The Romans had a highly developed plumbing system; water was brought to Rome by aqueducts and distributed to homes in lead pipes—hence the name plumbing from the Latin word plumbum fixtures and irrigation irrigation, in agriculture, artificial watering of the land. Although used chiefly in regions with annual rainfall of less than 20 in. (51 cm), it is also used in wetter areas to grow certain crops, e.g., rice. systems. * Green Building Standards for Federally Assisted Properties (Sec. 281-299). Fully incorporates the GREEN Act (HR 2336), which imposes new energy-efficiency and green building standards in HUD-assisted buildings. As a result of NAA/NMHC concerns raised last term, the measure now cites the National Green Building Standard as a compliance method for the bill's green building requirements. * Lighting and Appliance A stand-alone hardware device or software environment dedicated to a specific task. See hardware appliance and software appliance. Energy Standards (Sec. 211-219). Increases minimum energy-efficiency standards for certain lights and appliances manufactured after 2010. The tight final vote reflects the deeply divided constituencies on this broad measure, which Republicans have labeled as an energy tax bill. The House-passed language will now go to the Senate for consideration. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has been considering legislation that contains several apartment-related provisions, including building-code requirements, new appliance efficiency standards and a grant program for energy-efficient retrofits. Notably, the Senate version does not call for federal building code enforcement. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has said that he hopes to bring a bill to the floor in September; however, many Senators are saying that health care and financial industry reform are higher priorities and require more immediate attention. NAA/NMHC will continue to work with the Senate to seek more realistic building code energy targets and to oppose federal enforcement of such codes. NAA/NMHC's side-by-side bill analysis is available at www.naahq.org/governmentaffairs. NAA/NMHC also have issued a grassroots alert asking members to contact their elected officials to oppose the flawed flaw 1 n. 1. An imperfection, often concealed, that impairs soundness: a flaw in the crystal that caused it to shatter. See Synonyms at blemish. 2. building codes provisions which are, in many cases, technologically and fiscally unfeasible |
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