ALBANY, N.Y. - Carbon monoxide (CO), a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas, kills more than 200 people in the United States every year and poisons more than 10,000. In response to these incidents, some states are making residential CO detectors mandatory. New York law requires that CO detectors be installed in all one- and two-family houses, condominiums, and co-ops built on or after Dec. 1, 2002.
New York is taking CO safety even further with its Energy Star® programs and Energy Star-labeled homes. These residential energy efficiency programs have high ventilation standards for CO and use a whole-house approach to building and home improvement designed to add an extra level of safety and comfort.