Oct 22 2007
The Austin City Council approved a breakthrough program that sets Austin apart as the clear national leader on home energy efficiency.
"We're taking action today that will lower the cost of utility bills, make housing more affordable, help improve air quality and take critical steps in the fight against global warming," Mayor Will Wynn said.
Today the Austin City Council adopted the first in a series of code amendments that by 2015 will make all new single-family homes in Austin zero energy capable. A zero-energy home is one capable of producing as much energy as it consumes over the course of a year.
Code changes will incrementally increase efficiency so that, on average, homes built in 2015 will require 65 percent less energy than those built today. Home owners who choose to do so will be able to add solar panels or use other strategies to bring homes to zero net-energy use.
"The savings here are staggering - over the next ten years these policies will save homeowners almost $125 million on utility bills and have the same greenhouse gas reduction effect as taking almost 200,000 cars off the road," Wynn said.
The policies up for Council adoption - including today's code changes and the roadmap for changes through 2015 - are the product of a year's worth of work by the Zero Energy Capable Homes Task Force and are a cornerstone of the Austin Climate Protection Plan.
"The city brought together a broad coalition representing the housing industry, business, non-profits and government. The final product is much better for having sought and followed the advice from a diverse group," said Eric Perkins, President of the Home Builders Association of Greater Austin.
Environmental advocates hailed the effort as charting a new course for the nation. "Study after study shows that the most important thing cities can do to fight global warming is cut the energy use in their buildings," said Tom "Smitty" Smith, director of Public Citizen's Texas office. "With this step Austin, is truly the national leader."