Net Zero Energy Mandate: Big Win for the Economy and Environment
Could California’s Net Zero Energy mandate extend far beyond sustainable home building? Find out what this may mean for business, economy and our future
As usual, the state of California, with an economy larger than most countries, is taking action. Concerns over climate change have prompted us to pass a net-zero energy mandate for 2020.
That means that any home built after this year will need to produce at least as much energy as it consumes. And as we’ve seen with other laws and innovations that start in California, I expect that we’ll see far-reaching ripples through everything from the economy to our way of life.
A significant push like this will promote incredible innovations that reduce wastefulness to further sustainability around the country and the world.
More Energy Efficient Homes
We’ll continue to see appliances getting more energy-efficient. And homes will keep getting smarter through devices like Google Nest and Alexa, conserving energy where and when they can.
More Clean Energy Production
I also envision a huge boom in energy production systems like solar and wind. These houses will need a lot of solar panels.
Improved Battery Storage
One of the ongoing challenges with energy-independent homes has been this. How do you store the energy long-term?
Not unlike when I buy some AAs for my kids’ toys, I know that batteries slowly lose their charge even if they’re not being used.
It may not be a massive problem in sunny California. But in other parts of the country and world, you may have days of gray skies, during which a battery backup would be essential to keep the heat on.
Billionaires like Gates and Bezos are investing heavily in advanced battery technologies. Analysts estimate that the battery storage market could grow 12 fold in the next five years.
Lower Prices on Retrofitting Your Business for Sustainability
All the innovations related to the zero net energy mandate should also drive down the price of alternative energies. So if you’ve been on the fence about installing solar or another source on your business, it may soon be the time.
That could not only cut your energy bills. It also shows that you’re a socially and environmentally conscious person. Most target audiences today love that and buy into businesses that demonstrate it.
Mandates For Business and Around the Country
And finally, if all goes well, we should see this carry over to businesses. And other states will follow suit.
So even for those who aren’t in California, proactively preparing for that likelihood would be forward-thinking right now. For business, this may change everything from how we manage building access to the types of cloud service we employ to streamline business energy usage.
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