Home Energy Efficiency Policies: Ratings, Assessments, Labels, and Disclosure - October 2018

As with vehicle fuel-economy ratings and Energyguide labels for US appliances, home energy ratings let buyers compare the energy efficiency and performance of various homes.3 Some home energy assessments provide home energy reports, rather than ratings, and offer findings and recommended energy efficiency improvements. [...] home is listed on the For existing homes, Home energy market, and results of the assessments provide Austin, Texas assessment* assessment are made homeowners with options available to interested for physical improvement of home buyers the home to reduce energy use through improved energy efficiency. [...] Requires existing and new Established in Berkeley, homes on the market to California; Portland, Oregon; Provides a simple rating to receive a numerical score Santa Fe, New Mexico (new compare the energy Home energy on the home’s overall construction); and Boulder, efficiency of homes and rating energy efficiency. [...] These deficiencies led to the development and passage of the Building Energy Saving Ordinance (BESO) in 2015, which replaced RECO.8 The goal of BESO is to reduce building energy use and GHG emissions as part of the CAP. [...] The home seller bears the cost of the audit, which typically ranges from $150 to $275, depending on the property’s size and the types and complexity of the home appliances, equipment, and systems.