Electric panel capacity in most homes could be a roadblock to widespread electrification unless panel sizing is addressed in updated building and energy codes and targeted incentive programs, according to research by Pecan Street, Inc.
Electrification of homes that use natural gas and other combustion fuels is a critical step in achieving meaningful emissions cuts that will help to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, Pecan Street says. As many as 48 million single-family homes in the U.S. may need electric service panel upgrades before they can fully electrify.
The research organization estimates that more than half of the new homes being built today have electric panels that will not enable full home electrification. Electric panel upgrades are an expensive proposition for most homeowners, though.
Pecan Street advocates creating sliding incentives based on household income levels to spur electric panel upgrades. Most all-electric homes will require at least a 200 Amp electric service panel—a provision that should be added to building codes, the research organization says.
Related Stories
| Apr 13, 2012
New York City’s building department investigating structural collapse that killed worker
Following a worker’s death, the collapse of a century-old, two-story warehouse under demolition as part of Columbia University’s expansion is under investigation by the city’s Building Department.
| Apr 13, 2012
Federal court reduces statute of limitations for OSHA action on record-keeping violations
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit sharply curtailed the period of time that companies can be cited for Occupational Safety and Health reporting violations, reversing the decision of an administrative panel and longstanding agency precedent.
| Apr 13, 2012
CSI webinar: Green Construction Codes Are Here -- Now What?
This seminar will trace the origins of green codes, how they compare and differ from the rating systems that have been used, and examine some of their main features.
| Apr 5, 2012
Retailers, banks among most affected by new ADA rules
On March 15, the most significant changes to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) since it became law in 1991 went into effect.
| Apr 5, 2012
Florida ranks first in hurricane building codes and enforcement
Florida ranks highest among 18 hurricane-region states for building codes and their enforcement, according to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety.
| Apr 5, 2012
New IgCC green building code is a ‘game changer,’ AIA official says
An AIA official calls the new International Green Construction Code (IgCC) a “game changer” for sustainable construction.
| Apr 5, 2012
Model energy codes add thousands to cost of new apartment construction, study says
New energy codes could add thousands of dollars to the construction costs of each individual apartment residence in a multifamily building, according to new research commissioned by the National Multi-Housing Council and the National Apartment Association.
| Apr 5, 2012
LEED 2012 will include new requirements for data centers
The U.S. Green Building Council’s updated LEED 2012 standards will require two systems to be modeled for each project in order to show power utilization effectiveness.
