Last week the city council of Portland, Oregon unanimously adopted an ordinance that will require home sellers to obtain an energy performance report, including a home energy score. This analysis will be used in the listing information as part of the home sale process. Portland now joins Austin, TX and Berkeley, CA in the list of municipalities across the nation that have adopted policies to let potential home buyers compare the efficiency of homes on the market. These policies function just like the familiar MPG rating on cars.
Massachusetts has been recognized as a national leader in energy efficiency policies for six straight years. However, there is no similar policy about home energy use in the Commonwealth. ELM will be working hard with the legislature and state agencies to make energy efficiency home audits and home energy scores the law here in Massachusetts.