2 ms·
I see the argument that buildings installing house wide resistive heating in cold climates is committing a similar type of shortsighted economic foolishness as
by mindslight 3y ago
I see the argument that buildings installing house wide resistive heating in cold climates is committing a similar type of shortsighted economic foolishness as say skimping on insulation (aka principle agent problem, bordering on fraud). But in general the job of building codes is to make sure what is built is safe and up to current standards, rather than making top-down policy decisions like gas vs heat pumps.
- PaulDavisThe1st 3y agoAs we did for light bulbs (amazingly!), the right way is to specify performance standards, not particular technologies. You base the standards on the best available today, and more often than not, a few years down the road, the best available exceeds the standard by a wide margin.
- toast0 3y ago> But in general the job of building codes is to make sure what is built is safe and up to current standards, rather than making top-down policy decisions like gas vs heat pumps. Building codes were traditionally about safety, but accessibility and energy efficiency are also important parts added over the past several decades. It's actually a reasonable way to make top-down gradual improvements to the housing stock. And it's regionally adapted as well; most places have code based on the international building code, with federal changes, state changes, and sometimes county or city changes. I don't necessarily agree that gas heating and cooking should be phased out, but prohibiting it in new construction is a reasonable way to do it, and putting it into building codes is a reasonable way to address new construction.