Dallas BA Weighs in on Dallas Climate Action Plan
The City of Dallas is pushing forward a “comprehensive” climate action plan that could have long term consequences on housing affordability and attainability, as well as economic sustainability. While Dallas BA is not in opposition to energy efficiency initiatives and an overall goal for healthy living, we do have concerns when concepts could lead to mandates and ordinances that limit the options that should be left up to the home builder and their prospective homebuyer.
In fact, in 2008, the Dallas BA played an active role in the creation of the City of Dallas’ green building ordinance. Housing advocates, activists and city staff worked together to create a model program that recognized best strategies for efficient construction. While those strategies varied in their approach and emphasis, each continues to lead to outcomes that improve a home’s energy and water efficiency, while addressing indoor quality, durability and homeowner education.
Dallas BA is always willing to be part of the conversation on these matters. However, it should always be done with the concern of impact on housing attainability. It is important to remember that when government entities pass a plan, it usually leads to regulations. Initiatives often become ordinances and restrictions. And sometimes lost in the drafting of regulatory language is the difference between what large businesses can afford and what homebuyers cannot.
There needs to be an understanding that operating a home and qualifying for a mortgage has nothing to do with operating a massive multimillion dollar tech campus where operating costs can be recouped over decades. So even what might be claimed to be small or desired provisions have long term consequences. Especially if the approach ends up being a one size fits all strategy that might leave out options in the energy efficiency toolbox.
With that in mind, Dallas BA began weighing in on Dallas’ Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CECAP) to remind them of work done going back to 2008. As the city released a draft of their proposed plan, we offered our concerns to the council committee of jurisdiction about several provisions that are vague enough to be problematic. Items such as infrastructure for solar products and electric vehicle charging appear to be introduced in a manner that could soon lead to ordinances mandating their installation in constructed homes, regardless of the preference of the home buyer. There are also concepts that interfere or add costs related to the choice of appliances, as well as those that could encumber real estate transactions or lead to costly retro commissioning in a housing market where affordability is already a challenge.
Dallas BA voiced our concerns to the City Council in a recent letter ahead of the June 27 vote on the climate action plan. Again, while CECAP is billed as a guiding strategy or plan at this point, Dallas BA must think ahead to the possibility of it evolving into ordinances. It is important to keep in mind that you can have all the technology one can conjure up, but it will not matter if families cannot afford the mortgage.