There are many layers to this and solutions need to be appropriate and suitable for each community, but the levers can and should come from the federal, State and local levels. A solution set could include some of the following elements, and ideally should be co-mingled to allow all measures to be leveraged:
a. Mandates
- Administrative or Executive Action
- State laws that can survive the special interest lobby blitz and have a meaningful impact in the market
- Implementing regulations that do not dilute legislative intent, that are issued in a timely manner, and are updated regularly
- Local City & County government leadership where there is paralysis or incrementalism at the State or federal level
- State & local legislation enabling a lean and efficient Property Accessed Clean Energy (PACE) Financing offering for residential and commercial to flourish
b. Quasi-Mandates
- Insurance industry policy that favorably impacts consumer/builder action and rewards above code best practices
- Mortgage/Lending policy that does the same
- Federal & State Rebuilding Programs with explicit conditions that protect tax payer dollars by ensuring compliance with best practices — not the least permitted under law, the code
c. Bridge Incentives that Cause Action
- Federal, State, Local Tax Credits or Incentives
- Lean, Pain-free, and Consumer/Market Friendly Utility Incentives
- Residential and Commercial PACE Financing programs for new and existing buildings
d. Free Market Choices
- Consumers, Designers, Builders that choose best practices over code – the lowest standard of care permitted under law
- Private sector financing companies that compete to offer PACE financing where programs are put in place by local governments
This is all so complicated, so that we are not in the same place were are today in 10, 15, or 20 years from now, what is needed to put the State on the right course?
