Editorial

Better home construction is a good long-term investment

Friday, July 8, 2005

Pay me now, or pay me later. Unfortunately, that's true all to often, as is the axiom "there's no free lunch." Thanks to new state energy rules, new homes will have to abide by the "pay me now" idea.

That's because the law, which went into effect Friday, requires new homes to meet the 2003 International Energy Conservation Code.

Home builders think the new code will require the use of more expensive, single-source high-density fiberglass batts, or 2 x 6s instead of 2 x 4s. The latter option requires more labor to install the heavier walls and window extensions.

But according to a University of Nebraska-Lincoln study, the extra cost -- which some builders say will range from $3,000 to $5,000 per home -- is worth it.

Studying four home types in Chadron, McCook, Norfolk and Omaha, the researchers concluded that the new codes allow enough savings in energy to more than cover the bigger mortgage on the higher-priced homes.

The owner of a new Nebraska home that meets the new codes could pocket between $50 and $295 a year in savings, depending on where they live, according to Amy Musser, a UNL assistant professor of architectural engineering.

Expensive to meet and enforce, we agree. But sacrificing now for long-term benefit is something we should be willing to do.

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