ECAD! Energy Audit Requirement Starts Today

If you sell a single-family home in Austin that is more than 10 years old and gets electricity from Austin Energy, then from today onwards you will likely need to get an Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure (ECAD), unless you have recently participated in an Austin Energy residential energy-efficiency program or meet one of the other varied exceptions. Similar requirements are in place for multifamily and commercial properties, but not condos.

The audit includes an assessment of the R-value of the attic insulation, the percentage of air leakage through the duct system, the number of windows with direct sunlight for at least an hour a day, and the energy-efficiency rating of the air-conditioning equipment. It also includes suggestions for improving the home’s energy efficiency. Audits are expected to cost $200 to $300 for a typical single-family home of 1,800 square feet or smaller with a single air-conditioning system. Auditors set their own prices, which depend on the size of the home.

There is no requirement to make improvements based on the audit - you just have to give the results to the person buying the house. If you are thinking of improving your home's energy efficiency, check Austin Energy's rebate programs.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@austinist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Shawn Shillington in News on June 1, 2009 5:05 PM 0 Comments

austinenergy; urbandevelopment

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william

Readers should be aware of the City of Austin's goal for creating these mandatory audits. The City of Austin hopes to reduce electricity demand by improving residential energy efficiency and therefore avoid the need to build another expensive and polluting power plant.

The rebates available from Austin Energy are some of the country's best. Visit http://www.austinauditors.com and click the "governmental rebates" tab for exact info on the available rebates.