I’m all for environmentally friendly practices and I’ve written for a few years now about various ways to help improve the energy efficiency of homes that are not new construction as well as highlighting programs that utility companies offer for these kinds of home improvements. In a meeting I was in this week at the Bellevue office of the Seattle-King County Association of Realtors, there was discussion regarding Seattle’s plan to make a potential mandatory requirement of energy audits on home owners when they sell their home. Concerns were raised that these audits would be required at the point of sale of a home and that if a home didn’t pass some currently unknown acceptable level it could cancel a sale.
Hmmmmm…. let’s see… is this a good idea?
It all stems from a greater common goal of reducing human carbon emissions in commercial and residential buildings which are the largest source of releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Seattle is trying to lead the way nationally and as part of its plans has put together the Green Building Task Force. You can read more about the program at this link. Part of the mayor’s desires come from his interest in meeting the Kyoto Protocol and the 2030 challenge.
What I’d like to know is whether this will remain a choice by homeowners, to have the energy performance scoring, or if the city will force sellers to not only be tested, then advertise in property listings what their rating is, but to also then make changes that will upgrade properties as part of a sale. Some are hypothesizing that this will happen. I think there’d be too much lashback to have that happen, but you never know. I’m also of the mind that those that are for the preservation of historic style homes will also weigh in on the potentially devastating aesthetic effect that forced upgrades might create in some of our most charming parts of the city where early 1900’s homes exist.
I’ve already offered to be a test case and to be on the pilot program that would include local real estate agents. In fact, I actually suggested that they not only ask agents to offer these tests to their clients but to also be a recipient of one of the audits personally to better understand the program and results. Leading by example is a big thing for me and it only make sense given the line of work. Plus, I’m also wondering if items outside the house will be part of the overall scoring process. What is you recapture rain from roofs and decks in rain barrels? Organic gardening?
What do you think of the ideas presented?
