It also requires that buildings be constructed to minimize energy use and that consumers have access to energy-efficient appliances, Gard said.

“There are some regulatory barriers to move in that direction,” Gard said.

Energy-efficient buildings could become the norm if proposals in front of the state Legislature pass.

Along with strengthening the state’s building codes, the proposals also would require utility companies to create energy efficiency programs to conserve energy.

According to the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, an annual 1 percent reduction in natural gas consumption for five years could lower prices by 13 percent.

Requiring that buildings be constructed for environmental efficiency could be difficult, said Pat Hudson, of the State Energy Office.

Building homes that use less energy can cost up to $2,500 more, Hudson said.

Hudson, however, is confident that consumers would receive that money back because of lower heating bills.

“It’s more affordable in the long run,” Hudson said. “In a short time you can get that money back.”

Because of poor insulation, older houses often have higher heating bills than newer houses, said Aileen Gow, executive director of Urban Options, an East Lansing environmental services nonprofit organization.

“That’s what we see every day: lots of drafty houses, and, in some cases, not enough insulation,” Gow said.

Urban Options performs energy audits that show home owners how they can lower their energy bills.

By installing energy-efficient appliances and stronger insulation, homeowners can often reduce energy bills by as much as 20 percent, Gow said.

Some of those changes can be costly, Hudson said.

“It’s a lot harder to go in and fix the house,” Hudson said. “Some consumers do that, but they’re in the minority.”

Part of the reason Michigan doesn’t yet have energy efficiency standards is because many people aren’t aware of the concept, Hudson said.

“If people don’t know enough, it’s hard for them to argue for it,” he said.