As states design policies and programs to encourage energy efficiency in homes, one challenge is lack of homeowner awareness and information on the energy performance of their properties. This makes energy efficiency hard to prioritize when making home buying and retrofit or upgrade decisions.
To address this challenge, several states have developed residential energy labeling programs and policies. Residential energy labeling programs produce an assessment of a home’s energy performance and compares it to that of other similar homes. They provide valuable information for homeowners, homebuyers, and other stakeholders such as real estate professionals, appraisers, lenders, and contractors. The energy label and supplementary information are used to inform real estate purchasing decisions or investments in energy efficiency upgrades. Numerous considerations go into state and local residential energy labeling programs, such as determining the best metrics to use when describing home energy performance and how to account for differences in new and existing homes.
Residential Energy Disclosure Policies in States and Cities
Download PDF of Residential Disclosure Policies in States and Cities
NASEO is working with the State Energy Offices on several home energy labeling and home energy scoring initiatives, including:
- Residential Energy Labeling Coordination -- To better coordinate activities and assist states in leveraging resources, NASEO holds a Residential Energy Labeling Coordination call each month, and conducts periodic meetings in conjunction with the NASEO Annual Meeting and Energy Outlook Conference. The calls provide a forum for State Energy Offices, local governments, interested NASEO Affiliate Members, and other stakeholders active in residential energy labeling to elevate best practices, new approaches, and market concerns.
Studies Nationwide Show Energy Efficient Homes Sell for More, Faster
Download PDF of Studies Nationwide Show Energy Efficient Homes Sell for More, Faster
Resources
- The Value of Adding Home Energy Score to Low-Income Energy Efficiency Programs
This paper explores the value of documenting energy efficiency improvements completed in low-income energy efficiency programs and explains that the benefits participants experience can be enhanced by obtaining an energy label, which provides additional value to participants by documenting the upgrades and improvements to their home.
- Energy Metrics to Promote Residential Energy Scorecards in States (EMPRESS)
NASEO and the Rhode Island Energy Office partnered with the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, the Missouri Division of Energy, the Arkansas Energy Office, the Oregon Department of Energy, as well as Energy Futures Group, Earth Advantage and Vermont Energy Investment Corporation on the Energy Metrics to Promote Residential Energy Scorecards in States (EMPRESS) project.
- Home Energy Labeling: Steps states can take to support city-based home energy labeling initiatives
Earth Advantage (December 2019)
This resource explores steps states can take to establish a home energy labeling framework that supports city-level labeling policies and programs. It provides guidance on four steps states can take: Define the State's Role, Set the Rules, Enable Statewide Energy Labeling Infrastructure, and Analyze and Educate.
- Home Energy Information Accelerator (HEIA) Toolkit
A Product of the Better Buildings Home Energy Information Accelerator Toolkit, U.S. Department of Energy (August 2018)
The document helps readers interested in improving access to home energy information navigate the many resources, lessons learned, and best practices developed through the Accelerator.