Mich. Energy Code Not ‘Cost-Effective,' Says Home Builders
LANSING, Mich. - The new residential energy code proposed by the Granholm administration will trap hundreds if not thousands of low and fixed income families in energy wasting older homes, according to the Michigan Association of Home Builders.
"Michigan's families will be poorly served by the governor's choice of energy codes," said Lynn Egbert, chief executive officer of the 11,000+ member association. "While the administration has claimed the average cost of compliance with its proposed energy code is $1,585, our examination of the code shows an average cost using the prescriptive path ranges from $4,000 to $6,000 per home depending on the style of the home. This unnecessary cost increase in the price of a new home will lock working Michigan families into energy-wasting older homes built to less efficient energy codes.