Last week the California Energy Commission voted on tighter regulations on energy consumption of new buildings. The rules which kick in January 2014should reduce wasted energy in heating, cooling and lighting by over 25 per cent through stricter standards concerning lighting controls, hot-water pipes, windows, insulation and other systems in new buildings and building additions. Buildings offer immense potential for energy conservation: They are responsible for 40 percent of our energy consumption and 21 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. Due to new regulations homes and buildings will consume much less conventional power. Innovations in all areas of sustainable energy supply and energy consumption are among the most effective tools we have to fight the negative consequences of climate change.

The new regulations, which will become effective in a year and a half, are the latest in the triennial revisions under the 34-year-old law that has made California's attempts to save energy the most effective in the USA. It is California's highest priority to use less conventional electricity and gas to run buildings, without abandoning comfort or productivity. By means of energy efficiency California try to fight pollution, global warming and waste of natural resources.

The new regulations for buildings, constructed from the beginning of 2014 onwards, include insulation on hot water pipes and more efficient air condition systems and require home-builders to make roof-tops ready for eventual solar power systems. The Energy Comissioner of California Karen Douglas said, that "the update for building standards is the biggest incremental improvement in efficiency that we've ever made in California."

The major goal of the upgrades by law of course is energy efficiency, but also they have to be cost-efficeint. The Energy Commission estimated that the new standards would add $2,290 to the cost of a 2,200-square-foot home but would yield $6,200 in energy-related savings over 30 years. Furthermore during the same time span, the new standards would save energy equal to the output of six modern natural-gas-fired power plants, saving enough electricity to run 1.7 million homes. (Numbers based on the LA Times article on June 01 2012)
 Intelligent building technology positively impacts the energy efficiency, the conservation as well as the comfort of buildings, while also raising the productivity of occupants and companies.