West Virginia REALTORS® Promote Energy Conservation to Cut Homeowners’ Costs

The West Virginia Association of REALTORS® has been working to promote residential energy conservation by advocating for the effective implementation of the state energy code.

In 2012, thanks to the advocacy of REALTORS® and many other groups, the state of West Virginia adopted the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code published by the International Code Council, and a 2007 American National Standard published by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers. The international code applied to residential construction, and the ASHRAE code to commercial construction. The codes provided standards for energy efficient building and construction in all new homes and commercial buildings.

The energy codes also promised substantial savings for West Virginia homeowners. The REALTORS® Association estimated that compliance with the residential code would save the average homeowner $1,996 over the next 30 years.

Enforcement of the code also called for the training and continuing education of property inspectors, code enforcement officials, home inspectors, builders and architects. The REALTORS® Association is actively publicizing these training sessions to make sure the entire West Virginia housing industry will be able to comply with the new codes, and that consumers will reap the benefits of energy savings.