Last year, the Town of Southampton amended its building code to require that all new home construction complies with U.S. Energy Star standards.  

"As long as you plan for it, you minimize costs," says Town Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst about green building.In yet another move in the direction of energy efficiency, the town board last week proposed that new commercial structures should also meet this standard, according to the Southampton Press.  

The town board is scheduled to vote on the proposal, drafted by the Sustainable Southampton Green Advisory Committee, on February 25.  If approved, the requirement will become an amendment to the town's building construction code.

When announced at a board meeting earlier this month, the proposal received support from environmental advocates as well as some builders.

Bob Deluca, president of Group for the East End -- an environmental conservation organization focusing on Eastern Long Island -- praised the proposal. While some expressed reservations about the additional costs of Energy Star compliance to builders, others concluded such costs would be offset permanently by lower energy bills.