Home Energy Score Policy
Introduction
Many homes in our region suffer from poor insulation, outdated appliances, and inefficient heating systems—factors that drive up energy costs, degrade indoor air quality, and increase greenhouse gas emissions. A Home Energy Score offers simple and customized information about a home's energy performance, helping residents identify ways to lower costs and promote more efficient energy use. The City of Eugene is exploring a policy that would require disclosure of a Home Energy Score when a home is listed for sale, similar to policies in many other cities including Bend, Hillsboro, Portland, and Milwaukie.
What is a Home Energy Score?
A Home Energy Score is a tool that can help people understand how their home uses energy and where there are opportunities for improvement. Similar to a car’s miles per gallon fuel rating, it rates a home based on a variety of energy features, such as insulation, heating and cooling systems, windows, roof and more. The score report provides:
- Rating of a home’s energy efficiency on a scale of 1-10
- Estimated utility bills
- Condition of heating systems, water heater, insulation and more
- Customized recommendations for energy improvements
- Low-cost tips for saving money on energy bills
- $150-$300 to get a Home Energy Score
- View a sample Home Energy Score report
Proposed Home Energy Score Disclosure Policy
The City of Eugene is exploring a policy that would require disclosure of a Home Energy Score when a home is listed for sale. Under the proposed Home Energy Score disclosure policy, the seller of a home would:
- Get a Home Energy Score from a licensed home energy assessor before advertising a home for sale. The average cost of a Home Energy Score is between $150-300.
- Include the Home Energy Score report in the home listing on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) database, such as Zillow or Redfin.
- Allow prospective buyers to view the Home Energy Score as they look at homes.
Goals of the Proposed Policy
- Increase transparency: Provide buyers with clear, consistent information about a home’s energy performance.
- Support informed decisions: Help buyers understand potential energy costs and features before purchasing a home.
- Encourage energy-saving upgrades: Offer education and guidance so homeowners can voluntarily make improvements that reduce energy use and utility bills.
- Leverage the real estate moment: Share information at a time when people are likely to invest in upgrades to their homes.
Engagement and Research
The City of Eugene is seeking community input to help shape the policy. Through this engagement effort, the City will:
- Engage residents to understand their priorities and concerns.
- Research what other cities have done and identify best practices.
- Gather ideas for ways to make policies fair and effective.
Afterwards, staff will return to City Council to share results of engagement and research.
Background
Our region faces challenges with inefficient energy usage in homes and buildings leading to high energy costs. In Lane County, 34% of households are considered energy-burdened. Poor insulation, inefficient heating systems, and outdated appliances drive up these costs. Inefficient energy use also leads to poor indoor air quality, higher greenhouse gas emissions and greater vulnerability during extreme weather. These issues are especially common in older and rental housing. With many homes in our community in need of energy improvements, residents may not know where to start or what resources are available. Expanding the use of home energy scores is one way to address these challenges.
City Council has directed staff to explore home energy score policy options and present possibly pathways forward. Eugene currently offers free home energy scores for renters and low-income homeowners through a partnership with EWEB and UO's Home Energy Score Program. Four Oregon cities currently require a home energy score when listing a home for sale, including Portland, Hillsboro, Bend and Milwaukee. Many other cities across the nation and some states have home energy score policies with varying degrees of regulatory strength and compliance measures.
