Posted on 06/07/2009 8:55:42 PM PDT by reaganaut1
The city of Austin, Texas, has begun requiring homeowners to conduct energy-efficiency audits before they can sell their house, a move it says provides a model for cities and states seeking ways to push energy conservation.
With its new law effective last week, Austin joined at least two other U.S. cities -- San Francisco and Berkeley, Calif. -- that require the audits, which can include a review of a home's air-conditioning and heating systems, insulation and air-tightness, and generally cost owners from $200 to $300. [Chart]
Municipalities across the country are forging policies to encourage more energy-efficient buildings, particularly in new construction. Voluntary energy audits are increasing, too, often as part of government-subsidized "green" renovation programs that are expected to grab a chunk of a $3.2 billion federal stimulus grant devoted to energy conservation.
Austin Mayor Will Wynn expects the audit program to be a hot topic at the U.S. Conference of Mayors next week. The Canadian province of Ontario passed a law in May requiring home sellers to obtain an energy audit, but regulations have yet to be written. City leaders in San Antonio are closely following Austin's experience with its new law and plan to consider a policy on energy audits.
The Austin ordinance requires residents selling single-family homes more than 10 years old to obtain an audit and provide the information to potential buyers. While San Francisco and Berkeley, where audits became mandatory in the 1980s, require owners to make recommended upgrades, Austin doesn't. The Austin Board of Realtors agreed to support the audits after that provision was removed.
Critics of the measure, including homeowners and real-estate professionals, worry that listing all a home's energy-related flaws could drive down prices and even sabotage some sales.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
More nanny state tomfoolery. If you buy a house that’s more than 10 years old, it’s probably going to need some energy upgrades. The only problem is, how long will it take for you to get your money back?
I’m sure these price spikes will improve the housing market considerably.
Hello. I’m from the Government. I’m here to ‘help’ you.
“Could they do anything else to make it harder to sell a house?” she said.”
Guess she’s the slow one of the litter.
Creative minds are working on it while we speak.
Just wait until they REQUIRE you to do the upgrades before you sell. San Francisco and Berkeley already require that. Older houses would go from sellable to unsellable immediately. Inheriting a valuable piece of property would instead be a huge liability you can’t get rid of. Affordable housing would disappear.
“they”
won’t be satisfied until we’re all living in gov’t “approved” apartments, paid for by the collective.
For most of us affordable housing has disappeared. sigh.
My first question on reading that headline was "Who is Vex Austin, and why are his home sellers being audited by Energy? And how?"
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.