Energy efficiency topic of Islip hearing

Islip Town will hold a public hearing Sept. 7 to consider revising energy efficiency requirements for new home construction.

In the spring of 2008, the town adopted the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star rating system for new homes, a system that town officials said soon will be introducing more stringent measures.

In response to that change, officials met with environmental experts and construction industry representatives and determined the new standards would be too costly in the present economic climate. They considered abandoning Energy Star and shifting to a new rating regimen, Councilman John Edwards said.

The draft of a new rating system, which will be presented at the public hearing, would loosen the tougher requirements for homes bigger than 3,500 square feet. If adopted, the new standards would take effect on new construction starting Jan. 1.

“Islip would maintain its energy efficiency standards for the vast majority of new residential homes but at the same time be responsive to the economic environment,” Edwards said.