B9- Establish a point-of-sale/point-of-lease home energy rating and disclosure educational program for single-family buildings.

Establish a point-of-sale/point-of-lease home energy rating and disclosure educational program for single-family buildings.

The City will take a phased approach to reducing residential building emissions. Understanding a home’s energy rating prior to purchase or lease allows consumers to consider energy efficiency and its impact on utility costs in their decision making.

As a step 1, the City will work with the local real estate community to develop an educational program that provides information on building energy audits to new home buyers. The information will explain what an energy audit is, how they are conducted, how the results can inform cost-effective efficiency improvements, and where homebuyers can find information on certified audit professionals and possible rebates or incentives. Implementation of home energy audits can also contribute to local green job development and/or training programs to meet the new demand.

As a step 2 at a future date, the City will adopt an ordinance that requires home energy rating disclosure at the point of sale or lease for single-family buildings. Sellers would be required to have a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) evaluation prepared for their home and made available to interested buyers/tenants. The City would identify exemptions, alternative compliance strategies, or financial resources to reduce the burden on lower-income households. As with home energy audits, promotion of home energy ratings will also contribute to local green job opportunities.

As a step 3, the City will adopt a Residential Energy Conservation Ordinance (RECO) that requires residential property owners to install energy conservation measures in their buildings at the point of property sale or lease. The City will establish RECO requirements that include either a building efficiency threshold which must be met through installation of building improvements chosen by the building owner or a checklist of mandatory installations. The City will also establish maximum expenditure limits for compliance and identify exemptions, alternative compliance strategies, or financial resources to reduce the burden on lower-income households. Requiring energy efficiency improvements in homes will also contribute to job growth among the building trades.