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IN ‘09, ENERGY EFFICIENCY WILL COUNT WHEN BUYING OR SELLING
If you’ve been ignoring air drafts or differences in temperature
in areas throughout your house and are thinking of selling after
December 31, 2008, you may want to start paying closer attention
to your home’s
energy efficiency.
- The Montgomery County Council passed legislation in April
requiring that before signing a contract for a single-family
home, the seller must provide the buyer with: Information on
home energy efficiency improvements, including the benefit
of conducting a home energy audit.
- Copies of the electric, gas and heating oil bills or cost
and usage history for the single-family home for the immediate
prior 12 months, unless the home was unoccupied for the entire
prior 12 months. (If the home was unoccupied, the seller must
provide the buyer with the required information for the period
when the seller occupied the home. If the home was not owner-occupied,
then the seller does not have to provide the buyer with copies
of the utility bills.)
In addition, new construction homes must meet ENERGY STAR guidelines
(www.energystar.gov),
a national program from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
and U.S. Department of Energy, that offers a comprehensive, whole-house
approach to improving energy efficiency and comfort at home.
According to ENERGY STAR, an audit can help you assess how much
energy your home uses and evaluate what measures you can take
to improve efficiency. But, audits alone don’t save energy.
You need to implement the recommended improvements.
There are simple do-it-yourself fixes or you can hire a professional
to conduct an assessment. Suggested modifications may include
simple repairs from caulking tops of window frames to closing
the fireplace flue, to more expensive changes such as new windows
and appliances. Repairs can be costly and may only return a small
savings in energy costs, so it is important to consider energy
efficiency upgrades carefully and consult a professional regarding
meeting the new County requirements.
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