Montgomery Aims to Make Green Homes Mandatory

In response to questions from the building industry, EPA's Energy Star residential branch chief, David Lee, said in a letter that the agency does not advocate putting its standards into law and suggests that local and state governments "consider alternative, more market based solutions to encourage construction of Energy Star qualified homes."

Last year, Montgomery committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050, becoming one of the Sierra Club's Cool Counties, a group that includes Fairfax and Arlington. David Hauck, chairman of the Sierra Club's Montgomery County Group, said the legislation approved yesterday will help Montgomery begin to meet its commitment.

The county would provide a property tax credit of as much as $250 a year for residents who retrofit their homes with conservation devices, such as solar heating systems. Under another measure, homeowners would be required to provide electric, gas and oil bills from the previous 12 months before signing a contract for the sale of a house.

County government would do its part by developing a telecommuting program for employees, using biofuels for all diesel vehicles and increasing fuel-efficiency standards for its fleet of 1,430 cars, 286 SUVs, 252 vans and 168 pickup trucks.

An annual count of the government's SUVs would be required to determine which employees could use a more efficient vehicle. Leggett rides in a flex-fuel Chevrolet Suburban powered by a mix of ethanol and gas, which reduces carbon emissions and other pollutants.

"If there's a way to get the county executive around the county with a different vehicle, we'll certainly be looking into that," spokesman Patrick Lacefield said.

As the council copes with a $297 million budget shortfall and considers raising taxes and trimming services, some members questioned the estimated $1.5 million cost to administer the new initiatives. But, Leventhal said, "the costs of climate change are going to be far, far more costly."