Topic: Building Codes

Starting January 1, Illinois will become the first state to require all new homes and apartment buildings to be equipped with electric vehicle charging stations. This "right-to-charge" legislation is part of a broader push in blue states to mandate EV infrastructure in residential construction.

Turkish police have detained 12 people, including building contractors, following the collapse of thousands of structures during the recent earthquake. Critics point to a 2018 government amnesty that allowed builders to pay fines for code violations rather than retrofitting structures for seismic safety. Experts argue that the "pancaking" of modern buildings indicates a systemic failure in inspection and enforcement.

There is a renewed focus on revising building codes and infrastructure to make cities "climate adapted," including the implementation of cool roofs and surfaces. This movement is linked back to the failed "cap and trade" legislation from a decade ago, which sought to empower government inspectors to enforce home insulation standards. The current push is framed as an infrastructure investment strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings.

Middle-aged men in lycra, referred to by the acronym MAMILS, are noted as a common sight and a point of contention for locals in Italy and Switzerland. Additionally, a peculiar building code in Switzerland where doors open inward is identified as a potential safety hazard and a contrast to American fire safety standards.

The cap and trade bill includes provisions for "Green Banking Centers" and amendments to the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act. Representative John Boehner questioned why an energy bill is modifying housing laws and building material requirements. Representative Mary Bono Mack is singled out for criticism for voting in favor of the bill despite being a Republican.