Montgomery County in Maryland approved legislation last week that will make it the first in the nation to require all new single-family homes and townhouses to meet Energy Star Standards created by the Environmental Protection Agency, according to a Washington Post report.
The legislation, approved by the County Council, also includes other measures to increase energy efficiency 15 to 30%, such as property tax incentives for renewable energy, a requirement that residents disclose utility costs when they sell a home and a plan to get county officials to trade in their government-issued sport-utility vehicles.
Developers, many of whom already integrate energy efficiency into new homes, objected to the new rules, saying they will drive up home prices.
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