What does the Vermont Energy Code aim to reduce?

The Vermont Energy Code is designed primarily to enhance energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption in buildings, which directly contributes to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. By implementing stricter guidelines for energy practices within new construction and renovations, the energy code aims to ensure that buildings use less energy for heating, cooling, and lighting, ultimately leading to a decrease in the carbon footprint associated with energy generation.

Focusing on energy efficiency helps promote a more sustainable environment, aligning with broader goals to combat climate change by lowering the greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. While the other options related to water consumption, electricity usage, and waste production are important environmental considerations, the specific goal of the Vermont Energy Code centers on energy use and its resultant greenhouse emissions.