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DENVER, CO– The House Committee on Energy and Environment today passed Representatives Mike Weissman and Alex Valdez’s bill to give home buyers more options with regards to energy efficiency products in new homes, such as electric vehicle charging, electric water heating and solar panel systems. The bill passed 8-1.
“Homebuyers often want more options to improve energy efficiency, but installing wiring and other retrofits after a home is built can be expensive,” said Rep. Weissman, D-Aurora. “This bill gives homebuyers more options to pay upfront for the products they want, saving consumers money and time while improving the energy efficiency of new homes.”
“This bill would require home builders to offer to install charging stations for electric vehicles, pre-wiring for electrical heating or hot water boilers and other energy efficiency options,” said Rep. Valdez, D-Denver. “This is how we, as Coloradans, can take part in moving towards carbon-free homes while saving money in the process.”
HB20-1155 requires single-family home builders to make a non-mandatory offer to install or pre-wire homes for electric vehicle charging, electric heating, or electric water appliances. The home buyer would pay for the installation, and the bill does not mandate that a builder build or install anything that a buyer doesn’t want. Current law asks home builders to offer, if a buyer wants, to pre-wire for solar or thermal systems. This would expand that to electric vehicle charging, heating and water.
It is less expensive to install or pre-wire for energy efficient appliances and vehicles when a home is being built than to retrofit a new home after it’s been purchased. Homebuyers can save money on electric vehicle charging if it’s installed when they build their homes. Together, these options will lead to more homes having energy efficient appliances, reducing the direct use of fossil fuels.