Climate Change Mitigation Strategies

Resolved that NAHB urge Congress, the executive branch and state and local governments to focus efforts on implementing market-driven mechanisms to encourage greater efficiency in the housing industry while preserving housing affordability;

Further resolved that NAHB support reasonable, fairly apportioned and cost-effective climate change mitigation strategies implemented through local, state or regional governmental bodies acting within the scope of their authority;

Further resolved that any federal climate change mitigation strategy must not create requirements or mechanisms that duplicate, conflict with or are inconsistent with measures enacted by other levels of government;

Further resolved that any federal climate change mitigation strategy must avoid disproportionate penalties on new home construction, and adequately reward energy-efficient residential construction and remodeling practices by fully incorporating them into any proposed system of economic incentives;

Further resolved that NAHB urge the Administration to support measures taken to prevent the misuse of existing environmental laws — such as the Endangered Species Act or the Clean Air Act — to regulate GHG emissions in any mitigation strategy;

Further resolved that NAHB support climate change mitigation proposals that allow for voluntary above-code compliance for energy efficiency and that are:

1. Determined by local or state authorities or climate programs;
2. Based on climate zones and current building codes;
3. Delivering credits to the builders of highly-efficient or green-built homes that result in verifiable reductions in GHG emissions; and
4. Based on sound science and research on land development patterns that are proven to reduce GHGs; and

Further resolved that housing affordability must be considered as part of any plan to reduce GHG emissions from new home construction, and that increases in the cost of housing, as a result of the adoption of climate change mitigation strategies, should also be accompanied by meaningful incentives for such increased costs for energy efficiency and green building.

Resolution originally adopted: 2009.1, Resolution No. 3

Committee with primary jurisdiction:

• Environmental Issues Committee
• Federal Government Affairs Committee