STARTING 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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