Make the Landlord Pay the Power Bill

Before you start calling me a pinko commie bastard, hear me out.

Every sane American knows that the oil will run out some day. Most sane Americans realize that global warming is a problem we need to deal with. Any American that pays an electric or heating fuel bill knows that they are always going up.

What are you thinking?

Everybody knows that insulating a dwelling will bring down heating costs. Insulation also brings down the amount of fuel you have to burn to heat the same space. This is a permanent and cost effective way to reduce global warming, and keep down power costs.

Most informed people know that solar panels and wind turbines product free clean energy for their entire functioning life. In the life of the home or commercial building they are less expensive and destructive to the environment than what we are using now.

Passive and active solar designed buildings are more energy efficient and less costly to live in and do business from. An example of passive solar technology is planting deciduous trees in front of picture windows, to give shade in summer, and let light in during the winter after they drop their leaves. An example of active solar design is Photovoltaic pannels on a roof.

Why aren't we taking advantage of these technologies?

A landlord does not pay power costs, so it's not in their interest to use efficient green technologies. Their job is to build or buy as cheeply as possible, and rent for as much as they can possibley charge. The renters have no interest in taking on up front expenses that they may end up leaving behind. Nobody is motivated to do the right thing here.

So what are you proposing?

I propose a federal regulation that requires owners of rental properties to pay all power cost for their rental properties. It would include a 3-year grace period before coming into effect. It would then start out by making landlords responsible for ten percent of power costs the first year, and increase by 10 percent each year until they are paying 100 percent of the costs.

Won't landlords just pass the costs on to the renters and leave it at that?

Sure, in most cases they will, but not in all cases. Besides, the renters were going to pay those costs anyway.

Landlords compete for good renters. Some smart landlords will realize that they can reduce the energy costs, and better compete for renters without losing profits by making their buildings more efficient. They will have to, or sell those rentals to people willing to make them competitive. They will see an added increase in profits by renting to people and businesses that use energy wisely. This motivates everyone to do the right thing for everyone involved. This creates jobs for people who are willing to learn the skills required to build energy efficient buildings.

People looking to invest in rental properties will favor those building that are more efficiently built. This motivates builders to build more efficient buildings, by creating a market for them. It motivates owners of existing building to make green improvements to increase resale value. This creates jobs for people who are willing to learn the skills required to retrofit buildings for energy efficiency.

Why a federal regulation?

To keep one area or state from luring away people and businesses by allowing dirty practices which ruin the earth, and keep us dependant on foreign oil. To keep progressive states or areas from being penalized for doing what is right for the country, and mankind in general. This will only work if we leave no loopholes for the greedy seeking the fast buck. This also creates a level playing field for all rental property owners.

In conclusion

This plan saves money, does not unfairly interfere with a free market, creates new jobs, reduces dependence on foreign oil, and reduces global warming. It does not infringe on the rights of a private homeowner who lives in their home. What this plan does do is motive those making a living from buying up properties and renting them to others, to get creative and do the right things. If they are unwilling to do this, they can always sell those properties to someone who is, and get a job like the rest of us.