If you live in Austin, you may have heard of the Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure (ECAD) ordinance, but are unsure if you’re supposed to do one for your home and why it’s required in the first place. Energy, ECAD, Austin, Texas, Insulation, Sustainability
ECAD basics
Since 2008, the ECAD ordinance has required energy audits for certain Austin homeowners who are planning to sell their house. The goal of the ordinance is to identify problem areas and encourage property owners to increase their energy efficiency, which makes homes more comfortable, increases property value, improves indoor air quality, and protects the planet.
If you live within Austin City limits, you receive energy from Austin Energy, and your home is more than 10 years old, the ordinance mandates that you provide the results of a specialized energy audit to any prospective buyers.
The ordinance also requires multi-family properties (with 5 or more units) to do an energy audit every 10 years. The results should be posted and available to current tenants upon request. Building owners are also required to provide the results to any prospective tenants before accepting any application fees. Click here to see what the results of an Energy Audit would look like.
There are many companies around Austin that provide these audits for fees ranging from approximately $100 to $400, so get a few quotes before choosing an auditor. During an audit, inspectors check air sealing, attic insulation, HVAC system efficiency, weatherstripping, and windows.
Improving Energy Efficiency
Even if you’re not planning to sell your house in the near future, doing an ECAD audit is a great way to identify and prioritize energy efficiency improvement projects. There’s also exemptions to the audit available if you’re working on home energy efficiency through Energy Star or other programs, including getting rebates and incentives from the City of Austin for energy efficiency improvements in your home.
Whether you’re preparing for an audit, looking to increase your property value, or just want to save money on energy bills, installing proper attic insulation is a crucial step to making your home more efficient. High-quality, affordable, and expertly installed cellulose insulation (made from recycled paper so a bonus for the environment!) from Home Insulation ATX is just a click or a phone call away.
Contact us today for pricing and to see if you qualify for a free insulation inspection:
Address: 520 County Road 108. Suite 19. Hutto Texas 78634
Phone: 737-301-8148
Sources:
https://austinenergy.com/energy-efficiency/ecad-ordinance/for-multifamily-properties
https://savings.austinenergy.com/multifamily
https://savings.austinenergy.com/residential/offerings/home-improvements/hpwes-rebate
