City authority to require home energy performance reports may soon be codified in state law

HB 1433, from Rep. Davina Duerr (D–Bothell), authorizes cities and counties to require that the owner of a single-family residence obtain and make available a home energy performance report before the residence may be publicly advertised for sale.

Per the bill, home energy performance reports, where required by a city or county, must contain specified information and be prepared by a qualified home energy auditor certified by a qualified certification program approved by the U.S. Department of Energy. The Washington State Department of Commerce is directed to develop, maintain, and make available a standardized format for home energy performance reports.

A city may not require a home energy performance report until the city has conducted an analysis of the financial impacts on low-income home sellers associated with the performance report requirement and has adopted a program to mitigate such financial impacts.

HB 1433 passed out of the Senate Environment, Energy, & Technology Committee last week. It now awaits a hearing in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.