Uniform Building Code?

By Aglaia Pikounis

Banker & Tradesman Reporter

Massachusetts builders and architects scored a win today when lawmakers struck a section of the state energy bill that they feared would have driven up construction costs and hurt economic development.

Legislators also removed a controversial provision opposed by Bay State Realtors that would have required homeowners to pay for an energy inspection prior to selling.

The House passed a compromise measure Thursday, following a vote by the Senate earlier in the week. Earlier this year, the House and Senate passed different versions of the energy bill, which is intended to reduce energy consumption and promote alternative energy sources.

The Senate version initially included a section that would have enabled communities to establish and enforce their own building codes on new and existing buildings in order to promote “green communities.”

The measure would have created inconsistent building standards throughout the state, critics argued. That provision was opposed by a coalition of industry groups, including the Home Builders Association of Massachusetts, Boston Society of Architects and Associated General Contractors.

“Homebuilders are pleased that the Legislature recognized the importance of a uniform state building code in Massachusetts. To have allowed communities to adopt local codes would have set construction back over 30 years and would have needlessly added costs and confusion to construction in Massachusetts,” said Benjamin Fierro, counsel for the Home Builders Association of Massachusetts.

Realtors were also pleased that lawmakers withdrew a requirement for home sellers to provide energy audits to buyers. Instead, the bill directs the Board of Registration of Home Inspectors to work with other state agencies to develop a document that outlines the procedures and benefits of a home energy audit. The documents must be presented to buyers at the time of closing.

“As we’ve stated in the past, utility companies do provide a free energy audit to any homeowner. That’s something that makes sense,” said Steve Ryan, the Massachusetts Association of Realtors’ government affairs director.