As Maine’s new Climate Action Plan notes, modernizing homes and businesses to use cleaner energy, increase energy efficiency, and utilize lower-carbon building materials can both reduce pollution and enhance the health and prosperity of Maine people. A key step toward these goals is updating Maine’s outdated building energy codes, also known as the Maine Uniform Read More
building codes
Support of LD 340, An Act to Allow for the Establishment of Commercial Property Assessed Programs
Senator Lawrence, Representative Berry, and distinguished members of the Energy, Utilities, and Technology Committee. My name is David Costello. I am the Climate and Clean Energy Program Director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM), and I am testifying today in support of LD 340, An Act to Allow for the Establishment of Commercial Property Assessed Programs. Reducing Building Sector Read More
NRCM Testimony in Opposition to LDs 1120, 1191, and 1093, All Bills Related to the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code
Senator Amy Volk, Chair Representative Erin Herbig, Chair Joint Standing Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development NRCM Testimony in Opposition to LD 1120: An Act To Repeal the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code; in Opposition to LD 1191: An Act To Remove the Municipal andate To Enforce MUBEC; and in Opposition to LD Read More
The Big Picture: Leading Action on Climate Change
More and more people are coming together to work on climate change. It’s no wonder. We can plainly see changes in our lakes, forests, and backyard gardens. The number of cases of Lyme disease is exploding and many of us have had to take antibiotics because of deer tick bites. We hear on the national Read More
Legislature Rolls Back Maine’s Statewide Building Code, Despite Strong Opposition from Building Trades, Businesses and Others
The House voted today (76-71) to give final passage to a bill, LD 1416, that would exempt more than 400 cities and towns, with 40% of Maine’s population, from the Maine Uniform Building & Energy Code. The code provides consumer protection, increases energy efficiency and reduces heating oil costs for Maine people by providing a Read More
Maine’s New Uniform Building Code Law Under Attack
By Josie Huang MPBN Radio news story A months-old law intended to standardize building codes around Maine and improve the energy efficiency and quality of new construction appears to be headed for some big changes in the Maine Legislature. Some in the construction industry view the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code as synonymous with Read More
Contractors Protest Proposed Repeal of Maine’s Uniform Building Code
by Jay Field MPBN radio news story Maine’s uniform building and energy code has been controversial from the moment it began to take effect back in December. On Thursday, a legislative committee in Augusta will hold a public hearing on a proposal to repeal the law. Supporters say the code streamlines building regulations, and in Read More
Our View: Mainers Will Benefit from New Building Code
Upgrading the energy efficiency of new homes will help the owners and the state. Portland Press Herald editorial For decades new cars have been required to meet fuel efficiency standards. This has been a benefit for the cars’s owners, who spend less on gas than they might have if the standards had not been imposed. Read More
Building Code Bill Wins in the Senate!
We just won on the building codes bill in the Senate! The nail biter first and most important vote was 18-17, then Senator Bryant offered a crippling amendment that would have required enforcement only in towns above 5000. Senator Bromley requested that the amendment be “indefinitely postponed” (i.e. rejected). Senator Karl Turner supported that motion, Read More
