Amendment Needed to S. 2457: Sections 4, 39, 40, & 41
Home Energy Scoring Concerns
- Sections 4, 39, 40, & 41 of SB 2457 mandates that all single family and multi family homes receive an energy score test at the time of sale. While we have no objection to energy efficiency, however, the City of Fort Collins-which was the only city we could find that has some type of program on energy scoring-has estimated that “Costs for ENERGY SCORE ratings for typical homes vary from about $150 to $250.” If a homebuyer wishes to perform an energy audit they are already free to do so, they should not be required to perform this expensive test that has no data to prove an increase in energy conservation. Especially when many utility companies already offer FREE energy saving tips and/or audits to all their customers.
- Using an average of $200 for an energy score inspection, this proposal, based upon 2006 sales numbers, would force home buyers in MA to spend an additional FIFTEEN MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR! This is money that consumers could be spent on cost effective energy conservation such as attic insulation etc. Our research indicates that No state in the US, (not even Alaska!) forces home owners to get energy scores for their homes.
- There is no evidence or information as to how Section 4 will increase home energy efficiency; rather it would just create an energy score. Even the federal government has not established mandatory standards for these kinds of tests.
- The standard creation of these ratings will lead to delays in the home buying process as well as effect the negotiation of contracts regarding the acceptability of these ratings. Further, there is no real data on the condition of Massachusetts’s housing stock; however there are more than a few older homes in affluent and many less affluent communities. Older homes are logically not as energy efficient, could these ratings cause some kind of stigma to be attached to them?
- Section 4 allows the Board of Registration for Home Inspectors to require home sellers to produce utility and oil bills for the prior calendar year. Most sellers do not have a year’s worth of utility information at hand. Consumers do not use utilities, specifically heat and hot water, in a uniform manner. Some use them sparsely, some are more liberal. Finally, in the case of multi-family homes these bills may be in the tenant’s name and not readily accessible. Further, the fluctuation of energy costs may mean that utility bills may not provide an accurate depiction of current costs or the new owner’s anticipated levels of usage by different owners.
- There are many other, cost free, alternatives to improve the knowledge and education on energy conservation for homeowners which would not require mandating an energy score test be performed at the time of sale. The state could update current information home owners receive that includes information on energy efficiency and options for improvement.
