Commissioned by the Austin City Council, and with the blessing of Mayor Will Winn, Austin's Energy Efficiency Upgrades Task Force is finishing discussions for the basis of a possible ordinance with the ability to adversely affect the city's real estate market, and increase housing prices. The ordinance concerns energy audits to ALL homes, apartments, and commercial businesses. Initially, the audits would be voluntary with a "target percentage" of homeowner participation. If this "target" percentage was not met, the audit would become mandatory. Simply stated:

"For single-family properties, owners would be required to have energy audits before selling their home. These would probably be conducted by a third-party contractor, who would disclose efficiency information to prospective home buyers. How much the audits will cost is not known, but estimates have run between $150 and $350. In theory, the audit would take place at the time of the state-required home inspection. It will likely include both a visual and an air conditioning's duct system test."

Energy upgrade - For single-family homes

• The city of Austin's Energy Efficiency Upgrades Task Force has written draft recommendations that could become a city ordinance, which would affect the local real estate market. The final recommendation is expected by the end of the summer before going to board and commissions and then city council this fall.
• Mandatory
  • What: A home seller must get an energy audit and disclose the results to buyers.
  • When: Before the home is sold.
  • Cost: Estimates range between $150-$350.
• Voluntary
  • What: Following an energy audit and disclosure, home sellers or home buyers can participate in the Energy Savings program by installing energy efficiency upgrades recommended in the audit. Austin Energy is expected to continue its existing energy efficiency financial incentives, including cash rebates or low-interest loans.
  • When: To count in the Energy Savings program, upgrades must be completed before or within one year of the home being sold. The completion will be valid for as long as the current owner owns the home or 10 years, whichever is a longer period.
  • Cost: Homeowners would make upgrades that pay for themselves in five years in energy savings or cost no more than 1 percent of the home's sale value. For a home valued at $190,000, that would be $1,900.
• Possibly mandatory
  • What: If targets to get homeowners to participate in the Energy Savings program are not met, the voluntary element would become mandatory. Following an energy audit and disclosure, home buyers would be required to participate in the Energy Savings program by installing energy efficiency upgrades recommended in the audit. Some homes would be exempt.
  • When: Upgrades must be completed before or within one year of the home being sold. The completion will be valid for as long as the current owner owns the home or 10 years, whichever is a longer period.
  • Cost: Homeowners would make upgrades that pay for themselves in five years in energy savings or cost no more than 1 percent of the home's sale value. For a home valued at $190,000, that would be $1,900

This ordinance would also affect the multi-family and commercial properties, impacting them even more than residential properties! And what's this mostly about? At the beginning of the year, the task force started meeting to develop the next steps in the Austin Climate Protection Plan, which promotes the policy of making the city a leader in reducing global warming.

First, it was the economic downturn, then $4/gallon gas, then higher property taxes, then the mortgage crisis, and now the local government wants to add global warming and an energy audit to help home sales in Austin????????

Again I'm reminded why I will never go into politics................