So I've been spending some time at the permit office, learning the permitting process and today I went in thinking I've got it.
[Long boring story here that I'll spare you]
So, it turns out -- in Boulder at least -- based on the square footage of my remodel, I have the following two options:
1. Do not upgrade the insulation in the exterior walls -- leave the old insulation from 1965 or whatever -- get my permit over the counter, and go to work. House is no more energy efficient.
2. Upgrade the insulation in the exterior walls, making the house much more energy efficient. However, this triggers the requirement for HERS (energy efficiency) ratings improvements, which of course is more time, paperwork, and process.
And let me be completely clear here. I have absolutely no issue with the requirement to upgrade the energy efficiency of a property when doing renovations, and by itself I have no issue with the extra time, paperwork, and process required to demonstrate the increased energy efficiency.
The issue I have here is, in my case, I would get rewarded (I would have my permit now and would be able to start work immediately) for NOT increasing the efficiency of the house -- Or looked at another way, I'm getting "punished" for choosing to increase the efficiency of the house.
I know you righties are going to jump on this as some example of liberal "unintended consequences" of additional regulations, but really, I don't see how this gets avoided without either a) Requiring EVERY renovation (no matter how big or small) to go through this HERS rating process; or b) Completely eliminating the HERS rating process. I wouldn't want either one of those situations either.
[Long boring story here that I'll spare you]
So, it turns out -- in Boulder at least -- based on the square footage of my remodel, I have the following two options:
1. Do not upgrade the insulation in the exterior walls -- leave the old insulation from 1965 or whatever -- get my permit over the counter, and go to work. House is no more energy efficient.
2. Upgrade the insulation in the exterior walls, making the house much more energy efficient. However, this triggers the requirement for HERS (energy efficiency) ratings improvements, which of course is more time, paperwork, and process.
And let me be completely clear here. I have absolutely no issue with the requirement to upgrade the energy efficiency of a property when doing renovations, and by itself I have no issue with the extra time, paperwork, and process required to demonstrate the increased energy efficiency.
The issue I have here is, in my case, I would get rewarded (I would have my permit now and would be able to start work immediately) for NOT increasing the efficiency of the house -- Or looked at another way, I'm getting "punished" for choosing to increase the efficiency of the house.
I know you righties are going to jump on this as some example of liberal "unintended consequences" of additional regulations, but really, I don't see how this gets avoided without either a) Requiring EVERY renovation (no matter how big or small) to go through this HERS rating process; or b) Completely eliminating the HERS rating process. I wouldn't want either one of those situations either.
