Clarkstown adopts Energy Star building code

The Rockland County community of Clarkstown now requires new homes to meet an Energy Star rating threshold that exceeds the state building code in order to receive a certificate of occupancy.

The regulation was adopted in August as the recession was getting into high gear, slowing the pace of subdivision construction, said Clarkstown building inspector Peter J. Beary.  He said the slower pace will allow developers to get used to the new requirements and said he expects about 50 new homes to be built this year under Energy Star requirements. Subdivisions awaiting better economic times will also have to comply, even if their approvals were received prior to adoption of the law.

He said that new homes are required to have HERS inspectors review plans using the Home Energy Rating System and then inspect the new homes at key intervals during the construction process to monitor and document what sort of energy conservation and efficiency measures were put in the shell and fixtures of the home.

He said state building codes have improved over the last decade and said therefore that homes not built to Energy Star ratings were “still pretty good homes. But homes built to Energy Star, those are Cadillacs.”

Beary said the new regulations were not opposed and that builders and residents alike seem to agree that better construction regulations help with property values as well as ensuring new homes are a better investment because they cost less to power and heat.