In early 2007, Austin Mayor Will Wynn released the Climate Protection Plan with the goal of making Austin the "greenest" city in the country. One part of that plan involves establishing mandatory energy efficiency standards for existing homes that would be enforced when a home is sold (called "point of sale"). To date, the Energy Efficiency and Retrofit Task Force has been created by city leaders and is forming recommendations to promote energy efficiency in Austin.
We support efforts to encourage Austinites to make their homes more energy efficient, but mandatory requirements enforced at the point-of-sale are the wrong approach.
Austin already has a high cost of living and mandatory upgrades will only make it more difficult to buy or sell a home here. We need to protect those least able to endure more expense - first-time homebuyers, low-income families and senior citizens - and encourage energy efficiency the right way: through a voluntary program that rewards Austinites in a meaningful fashion. The costs of implementing this program for sellers could be a road block for selling homes. While details of actual proposal seem to be changing weekly, it's important to stay in the loop on this important issue. Keep also in mind that EVERY city is watching how Austin navigates through this matter. If Austin successfully implements these programs, other cities could follow suite shortly after making it a situation all Central Texas home owners will have to be prepared to handle when selling a home.
Go to this website for more information! www.KeepAustinAffordable.com
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