Cash for saving energy? California considers this and first statewide green building code

[The Northerner]

Source: USA Today

California, long a trendsetter for eco-friendly living, is breaking ground again this week. It's set, as early as today, to adopt the nation's first statewide green building code, which environmentalists say is not tough enough, and is also considering paying residents to cut their energy use.

On Monday, a state panel proposed that most of the new fees California plans to impose on greenhouse-gas emissions be returned to energy-saving consumers in the form of annual dividend checks that eventually could exceed $1,000 for a family of four, the Wall Street Journal reports.

The story says this proposal is part of an effort to find the most efficient way to change consumer behavior.

California is expected today to adopt a green building code that would reduce water use, mandate the recycling of construction waste and step up enforcement of energy efficiency in new homes, schools, hospitals and commercial buildings, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Read more: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2010/01/cash-for-saving-energy-california-considers-this-and-new-green-building-code/1

[ProgressiveProfessor]

1. Gee, what is Title 24, part of the traffic code?

CA Title 24 is a required set of energy efficiency rules including lighting that apply to residential and commercial properties in California. Most recent update went into effect 1 Jan