Council hears regional proposal to require home energy scores at listing; city staff outline costs and timeline

Jaren Burke, the City of Olympia climate program specialist, and Pamela Braff, director of climate programs, briefed the council on a regional model ordinance and program to require home energy assessment and disclosure using the U.S. Department of Energy Home Energy Score.

Burke said the proposed regional policy would require sellers to obtain a Home Energy Score report and include the score in all listings for a dwelling unit at the time the home is listed for sale. The report is based on asset-based characteristics (building shell, major equipment, number of stories and other features) and does not measure occupant behavior. The Home Energy Score produces a 1-to-10 rating, shows estimated bill savings from recommended improvements, and is typically produced by a trained assessor in about an hour at an estimated cost of $150–$300.

The policy draft shared with council applies to single-family detached homes, duplexes, triplexes and similar small-multifamily types that the Home Energy Score model can assess;…