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ECAD Ordinance - Effective as of May 1, 2009
The Austin City Council approved the Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure (ECAD) ordinance to improve the energy efficiency of Austin homes and buildings that receive electricity from Austin Energy.
Improving energy efficiency can help reduce electricity bills for renters and owners of homes, multifamily properties, and commercial buildings. The ordinance also helps meet one of the goals of the Austin Climate Protection Plan—offsetting 700 megawatts of peak energy demand by 2020 to reduce Austin’s carbon footprint.
Single Family Homes
The Austin City Council approved the Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure (ECAD) ordinance to improve the energy efficiency of Austin homes and buildings that receive electricity from Austin Energy.
Improving energy efficiency can help reduce electricity bills for renters and owners of homes, multifamily properties, and commercial buildings. The ordinance also helps meet one of the goals of the Austin Climate Protection Plan—offsetting 700 megawatts of peak energy demand by 2020 to reduce Austin’s carbon footprint.
Exemptions (also see here)
Homes meeting any one of the following conditions do not need an audit. The home:
- Is less than 10 years old at the time of sale
- Has received at least three energy-efficiency improvements or a total of $500 in rebates through the Austin Energy Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® program within 10 years before the sale. These improvements include: increasing attic insulation to R38; installing solar screens, solar film, or low-E windows; adding radiant barriers in the attic; replacing or insulating ducts; reducing air infiltration and sealing ducts; and installing new qualifying HVAC systems.
- Has received energy-efficiency improvements through the Austin Energy Free Home Improvements program within 10 years before the sale.
(Austin Energy offers free home-energy improvements only to customers with low-to-moderate incomes.)
- Is a condominium
- Is manufactured housing (a mobile home) built on a permanent chassis and designed for use without a permanent foundation.
- Changes ownership and the transfer of the title occurs under one of the following:
- Foreclosure sale, trustee's sale, or deed in lieu of foreclosure
- Pre-foreclosure sale, in which the seller reached an agreement with the mortgage holder to sell the property for an amount less than the amount owed on the mortgage
- Threat or exercise of eminent domain
- Gift from one family member to another family member without consideration
- Court order or probate proceedings
- Decree of legal separation or dissolution of marriage or property settlement agreement incidental to such a decree
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