Eugene homes put on the market will soon have to come with an energy efficiency rating. The Eugene City Council approved a new ordinance on Wednesday, in a 6-to-1 vote, that requires some sellers to disclose how energy efficient their properties are.
Under the ordinance, certain sellers must obtain a Home Energy Score assessment before listing a dwelling unit and make the resulting rating publicly accessible. The assessments examine features such as insulation and heating and cooling systems. City estimates put the cost of an assessment between $150 and $250.
Councilor Alan Zelenka said at the meeting that the policy could help Eugene cut its greenhouse gas emissions. He pointed to the experience of other places that have used similar programs. "Other cities have had this program for years, and what we've learned from that is that it's very effective, very efficient, with little to no impact on the sell-buy process or on price," Zelenka said.
Several Oregon cities already have comparable laws on the books, including Portland, Milwaukie, Hillsboro and Bend.
The ordinance follows pressure from local climate advocates. Several of them urged the city to adopt the policy after an attempted partial ban on natural gas hookups ran into legal roadblocks.
Councilor Mike Clark cast the only vote against the measure. He objected to adding another expense at a time when buying a home is already very costly. Clark also questioned the purpose of the program. "I believe that this is a great deal more about creating a database of everybody's home in Eugene than it is about serving buyers and their best interests," he said.
Councilor Matt Keating called for further discussion about how to offer similar information to renters in the city, who are not covered by the sales requirement.
The new rules will take effect six months after Mayor Kaarin Knudson signs the ordinance. Based on the timeline reported by the outlet, the requirements are expected to begin next spring.
