Think Berkeley is Green? Think that they have a lot of ordinances when buying or selling a house? Apparently, the city is talking about making new home buyers adhere to some new green standards. Sure, they have their current RECO requirements but the new Amendment (for Oakland and SF and maybe other Bay Area cities as well) would shift the measure compliance to the buyer but would offer more flexibility in such areas as credits for solar panels and hydronic heat. The multi-tiered measure would take into account other Green expenditures such as: Low-E window installation, solar water heating, even home performance tests and renewable energy sources.
Some people might say these proposed amendments would shove Green regulations down homeowners throats (or wallets) but we think that this Green kick in the pants will be for the greater good. California’s Title 24 Energy Standards will become stricter in 2008-09 anyway so Berkeley (and the rest of the Bay Area) might as well get a head start.
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