Home builder group voices goal of ‘50 percent energy reduction’

A Northern California home builders’ group has begun lobbying for a new goal of reducing energy consumption of homes 50 percent by 2020. The Home Builders Association of Northern California represents around 100 builders, including KB Home, Pulte and Centex.

Member builders will be required to achieve the reduction compared with 1990 energy consumption levels within 14 years, said association president Joseph Perkins. Additionally, members will be asked to reduce carbon emissions by 30 percent within the same time frame.

The builders group also announced its support for the adoption of green building standards created by the Berkeley, Calif.-based nonprofit group Build It Green. So far, 15 of the 101 cities and counties in the nine-county region have made Build It Green standards mandatory, according to the East Bay Business Times.