What Is A Home Energy Score And Do I Need One?

The City of Portland's home guide states that “The home energy scores in Portland are market guidelines for communicating important information to home sellers and buyers.”  The Home Energy Score in Portland allows buyers to make a comparison of houses using their energy output. 

In 2018, Portland started its Home Energy Score program. The implementation idea has long existed for at least ten years in the UK and European countries. 

Each home is given a score from 1-10, where value 1 is the lowest and value 10 is the highest inefficiency. The Score shows how much a home dispenses and how much is supposed to be utilized if the normal working conditions and occupant behavior are applied. 

It has more benefits for anyone who lives in a home that has existed for a while. Also, it shows the level of improvement you can achieve if you reduce your home energy bills.

Other Benefits Of Home Energy Score

Everyone needs home energy scores in Portland. It aims at creating and improving market value for homes that properly utilize energy to boost the essence of life.

This is achieved by:

  • Giving homeowners and buyers the information they need concerning home energy management and improvements, to reduce the utilization and cost of energy use.

  • Changing energy information into products that will help drive the financial market for safe and comfortable homes.

  • Encouraging the use of reliable and sufficient information to relay suggestions and increase the market value to your advantage.

How To Determine If You Need A Home Energy Score In Portland

There are three things to consider if you want to know if you need a home energy score.

#1. Is Your Home Located In The City Of Portland?

The law only concerns homes in the jurisdictional boundary of the City of Portland.

If you want to confirm that your home is in the Portland jurisdictional boundary, you need to input your address at portlandmaps.com and locate your 'Jurisdiction' field. 

If it indicates 'Portland', then your home is required.

#2. Is Your Home Advertised For Sale to The Public?

If you are currently putting your home up for sale through the public market, you need to acquire a Home Energy Score and make a report.

If you intend to make the sale of your home private without letting the real estate market in, you are not necessarily required to obtain a score.  We’d be happy to discuss your property further with you and if applicable, make you an offer so you do not need to put your house on the public market.

#3. Does Your Home Deserve Any Exemptions Or Exceptions?

For exceptions, floating, mobile, and made homes cannot be scored. They are therefore not required to have Home Energy Score in Portland. 

For exemptions, condemned homes and foreclosures are exempt from Home Energy Score requirements. 

Conclusion

If you are not currently a Portland resident or have not looked into selling a home within the Portland, OR city limits since 2018, there are Home Energy Score issues you should understand. Hopefully, this article was able to share some valuable information.