Imagine showing buyers a home, and, along with the Seller Disclosure, there is a easy to understand "energy thermometer" rating the house for energy savings on a scale of 1 to 10. The United States Department of Energy (DOE) introduced the Home Energy Score three years ago. It is like a vehicle mile-per-gallon rating--only for homes.
http://energy.gov/eere/buildings/home-energy-score-interactive-graphic
The Home Energy Score allows homeowners and buyers to compare homes, based on how energy efficient they are. The beauty of the score is its simplicity: On a scale of 1 to 10, a 10 shows excellent energy performance, and 1 means the home needs serious energy improvements.
Unlike granite countertops and deluxe bathroom features, energy saving air sealing, duct sealing and insulation are hidden behind the walls. HVAC systems that are 95% efficient look much the same as systems that only deliver 75% efficiency.
The Home Energy Score is a tool that sellers can use to demonstrate superior energy savings.
Colorado saw the benefit for consumers. The Colorado Energy Office has worked over the last three years to develop infrastructure to provide home owners and home buyers low cost energy information at the point of purchase," says Colorado Energy Office Residential Program Manager Peter Rusin. Unlike other rating systems tied to a specific building code, the Home Energy Score evaluates homes based on their expected performance, even if they were built before building codes existed, and shows how they can improve their score with prioritized energy conservation measures.
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