Energy Trust’s EPS™ offer for Existing Homes will no longer be provided as of October 2, 2017. The change does not impact EPS for New Homes, which continues to be available for newly constructed above-code homes.
In place of Energy Trust’s EPS for Existing Homes, other organizations will offer home energy scoring alternatives throughout Oregon. In addition, the City of Portland is launching a new Home Energy Score program on January 1, 2018. The Oregon Department of Energy also supports home energy scoring activity in areas outside of Portland. For more information on Home Energy Score providers in the state of Oregon visit https://betterbuildingssolutioncenter.energy.gov/content/home-energy-score-partner-map.
Energy Trust’s discontinuation of EPS for Existing Homes comes as a result of a maturing home scoring landscape that is now supported by other organizations such as the U.S. Department of Energy and the Oregon Department of Energy. The introduction of the U.S. DOE’s Home Energy Score in the Oregon market will coincide with the discontinuation of EPS for Existing Homes to ensure that home scoring services are continuously available to homeowners through licensed and trained Home Energy Assessors. For more information on U.S. DOE’s Home Energy Score, visit the Better Buildings Home Energy Score page.
Energy Trust introduced EPS for New Homes in 2009, and more than 13,000 homes have received scores. EPS for Existing Homes was introduced in 2012 as a tool for engaging homeowners. Since that time, more than 2,400 official existing home scores have been completed. Energy Trust also helped train trade allies on the topics of home scoring and delivering home energy scores, and has built homeowner awareness of home energy efficiency and home energy scoring.
City of Portland Home Energy Score Program
The City of Portland adopted earlier this year a policy to require home energy scores on single-family homes at time of sale. The city’s home energy score is similar to Energy Trust’s EPS for Existing Homes in that it provides information on home energy consumption, carbon footprint and resources to help home sellers make energy-saving home upgrades. It will require sellers of most single-family homes to obtain a home energy performance report that includes a home energy score and disclose the report information to the City of Portland at or before the time the home is publicly listed for sale on the market.
The new policy will initially apply to owner-occupied homes and will include the following housing types:
- Existing detached single family homes
- Existing attached single-family structures such as townhomes
- Newly constructed homes that are either detached or attached side-by-side
The City of Portland’s Home Energy Score program, Title 17.108, applies to any home (or covered building) listed for sale the first time, or re-listed, on or after January 1, 2018. Requirements for single-family rental homes will likely be phased in over time. Detached accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are not currently included in the requirements. The policy does not apply to homes that are stacked.
Buyers of newly constructed homes will either see the City of Portland’s home energy score or Energy Trust’s EPS during the open house, as both scores will satisfy the city requirement through 2018. Energy Trust will help develop a process with the city to ensure minimal impact on EPS verifiers and builders.
Between October 2, 2017, and January 1, 2018, the city will pilot the Home Energy Score program with Home Energy Assessors for training purposes and as a learning opportunity. The pilot will help ensure that the City of Portland and the market are ready to serve the large volume of homes requiring scores once the program goes into effect on January 1, 2018. Energy Trust is working with the City of Portland, Earth Advantage, Enhabit, The Home Performance Guild and others to ensure a smooth transition.
For more information on the City’s ordinance, visit the City of Portland Home Energy Score web page.
For more information on becoming a Home Energy Assessor, click here.