[kgmpers]

This is the thing I've never understood. Building a house that doesn't need to spend as much energy(money) heating and cooling is a better house. Just the same as a toilet that uses less water to flush is a better toilet. These aren't part of a UN plot to control your life, it's just a smart decision.

Secondly, regardless of what someone might think of climate change, you can't get around the fact that the Earth doesn't have infinite resources and is neither an infinite wastebasket. Something has to change about with how we do business to fix that fundamental issue.

[beeffective]

The regulations and fees around building a house are ridiculous in California. I would love to build a house of my dreams, which would be about 1500sq ft, big garage, on 1+ acre and energy efficient. I could easily afford to buy the improved land in Northern California with cash right now (1-5 acres). But there is one problem, the local governments have made that impossible unless I'm rich. It's $60k+ just to break ground on a piece of land that already has a building pad, water meter and electricity, all due to fees. The Department of Transportation mitigation fee is $37k alone. I'm not sure if these are liberal or conservative policies, tighter regulations due to unions, or environmental regulations (see SF Bay Area regulations in Contra Costa county - sorry no source).

So in the mean time, my only choice of buying my first home is some piece of shit stucko house in the suburbs.