Austin Energy Audits: Will Buyers Want Greener Homes?

 

The city of Austin is going green.  A new energy ordinance will take effect in 2009 that will require homeowners to have an energy efficiency audit done prior to selling their home.

 

In Austin, energy performance has a lot to do with how efficiently the central AC and heating system works.  In our hot climate we are more concerned about cooling than heating, but both are used during our hot and cold seasons.  The new law aims to reduce energy usage by making AC systems more efficient.  This means:

 

Reducing the loss of conditioned air through cracks in doorways and windows.

 

Finding leaks and closing gaps in AC ducts. (Ducts often have 10% – 30% leakage!)

 

Improving the level of insulation in the attic to retain conditioned air.

 

Keeping the hot sun out with solar screens on windows.

 

After some controversy, the law stopped short of making energy upgrades mandatory.  In today’s market, no one wants to make it harder or more costly to sell a house.  So, the law was pared back to require sellers of homes to have an energy audit, and disclose the results to potential buyers. 

 

But will buyers demand that the home they buy pass muster in terms of energy efficiency?  The market will have to sort this out.  But, over time they probably will.  Sellers will anticipate this by taking steps to correct areas of wasteful energy loss in their home.  Most sellers would rather not have a negative report to show prospective buyers.  They will want to have a clean bill of health.  And the items required for testing are kind of fundamental, we have to admit. 

 

In fact, they are so fundamental that they have been long ignored.  These are not the green features that are visually appealing or ego satisfying.  We don’t see them featured in Dwell Magazine.  We are not talking about wind turbines, or rainwater catchment, or solar panels, or Icestone counters.  We are talking about things that most people would rather not think about.  Like caulk and duct mastic.  And, unglamorous dark screens and dusty old attic insulation.  These are not the upgrades that cause buyers to say, “I love it.” 

 

So they haven’t been getting a lot of attention.  The new energy audit law is going change all that.  It will bring these behind-the-scenes basics into the limelight.  Old houses will meet new tech.  It will give homeowners a roadmap to improve energy efficiency.  That will mean lower utility bills.  And fewer carbon-spewing power plants.   And, in the long run, a greener Austin.  

 

Austin Energy Audit

 

Austin Energy Ordinance