By reading many of the comments here, it would seem like Virginia is in the stone age when it comes to energy conservation improvements. Nothing could be further from the truth. We have made significant improvements in the energy conservation of our homes and businesses over the past decade. So many improvements that we can barely keep up with them. The BHCD is listening and Virginia is getting another set of improvements to energy conservation efforts in the 2012 Codes. I have a hard time accepting that the measures we are taking today are not good enough. We do not even know the long term affect of our efforts....because there hasn't a long term to evaluate! I dare say we can effectively evaluate where we are right now, especially since the improvements proposed are based on calcualtions and assumptions, not actual data from every part of the country.

There is nothing that will prevent a new home builder from doing more than the code mandates. The Uniform Statewide Building Code is the MINIMUM safe standard. If you want to sell energy conservation, then sell it to the consumer. Make them want to choose to install a higher SEER heat pump than is required. Show them the savings involved with higher R values, fewer air changes, and better U factors in windows.

There have been many to testify to the savings incurred by making energy improvements to their homes. Great! But it was their CHOICE to make those changes. Others build homes with marble countertops, building a larger deck, putting in a swimming pool, paving a driveway or building a home theater. The key is, its the consumers choice, as it should always be.