Rate That House! ...or Not?
Home performance ratings are the law in the U.K. Why not in the U.S.? A Survey.
The "Energy Performance Certificate" has been a mainstay of United Kingdom real estate sales since 2008. Under the EPC law, almost all homes and other buildings for sale or rent in U.K. countries come with a rating graph like the one below, along with a "recommendation report" with suggestions to make the home more energy efficient.
To get an EPC, the current owner of the home or building must hire an accredited "domestic energy assessor," all of whom are listed on this site.
The U.S. has no national requirement for real estate listings to provide energy-use data. A number of MLS (Multiple Listing Service) systems allow home sellers to list their home's HERS home energy rating, but few if any require a HERS rating. A handful of jurisdictions have their own mandates; Nevada, for instance, requires existing single-family homes to undergo an energy assessment, but there is a waiver option.
There is also a tool called the Green MLS, which recognizes green "features" in a home, such as low-flow fixtures and enhanced air filtration. More than 100 MLS systems have adopted a Green MLS, according to this article in Green Builder magazine. But there are more than 800 MLS systems nationwide. Lots of room for growth, in other words.
Here's a quick survey to see how remodeling professionals feel about broader use of home-performance assessments on homes for-sale. Thanks for taking a few minutes to complete it.
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ProfServKS1040 579 days ago
