Bill to Increase Higher Efficiency Home Construction Passes Committee

DENVER, CO– Today the Senate Committee on Transportation and Energy passed Senator Chris Hansen’s bill to require builders to offer home buyers more options for energy efficiency systems in new homes. 

"Coloradans are passionate about decreasing carbon pollution, but installing energy-efficient systems in our homes after they are built, can be expensive," said Sen. Chris Hansen (D-Denver). "This bill gives homeowners the opportunity to save money by allowing them to request these installations beforehand. In the end, this legislation will increase the amount of energy-efficient homes being built and reduce our use of fossil fuels across the state."  

Current law requires a home builder to offer a buyer one of the following:

• A solar panel system or a solar thermal system;

• To prewire or pre-plumb the home for these systems; or

• A chase or conduit to wire or plumb the home for these systems in the future.

HB20-1155 would require that a home builder offer each of these options, as well as at least one of the following: 

• An electric vehicle charging system;

• Upgrades of wiring to accommodate future installation of an electric vehicle charging system; or

• A 208- to 240-volt alternating current plug-in located in a place accessible to a motor vehicle parking area.

The bill will now be heard in the Committee of the Whole.