As the California government hashes out the exact wording of the new energy regulations, homebuilders wait.
The Wall Street Journal reports that by 2020, the California Energy Commission will require every new residential building to be “zero net energy,” meaning that it will consume no more energy than it generates over the course of a year.
Builders will adjust to the codes by using new products and materials like solar panels, energy-efficient windows, and high-density fiberglass insulation.
The commission has been trying to nudge home builders and makers of everything from windows to thermostats toward these goals for years. When the standards do take effect, they will unleash a ripple effect across the construction industry, building-supply sector, even the providers of mortgages and home insurance.
