Actually, it's pretty easy. Right in the table of contents:
"SEC. 304. GREATER ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN BUILDING CODES."
The section does not address water heater insulation or any other specific practice at all. It requires the establishment of national energy building codes that meet certain energy reduction targets by certain dates. It doesn't say how.
I looked at the text of both the first-introduced bill and the one passed and sent to the Senate. Section 304 does not seem to differ significantly between the two.
It would be a HUGE step. There is a reason building codes apply to new construction and old houses are grand fathered in. It is not economically feasible to upgrade even a reasonably new (say 10 years old) to current code. My
60 year old barn would need new windows, roof structure, foundations, electrical, plumbing, insulation in the walls... The foundations alone would make it cheaper to tear down and rebuild.We would have to tear down most of the nation's housing stock. Now that's a stimulus package!
-- Doug
-- Doug