Title
Resolution to Measure the Impact of the Home Energy Rating Disclosure and Annually Report on Results to City Council
Memorandum
In September of 2023, Ann Arbor City Council voted to adopt the Home Energy Rating Disclosure, thereby requiring that home sellers receive and disclose a U.S. Department of Energy Home Energy Score (HES) to prospective buyers.
In discussing this ordinance, Council raised concerns about potential inequitable outcomes that could result from the real estate process, especially to low-income households and communities of color. While no community that has a home energy rating disclosure requirement has found disproportionate impacts to-date, the City Council wants to ensure that Ann Arbor's Ordinance does not inadvertently cause harm, especially to low income and communities of color.
Staff have already begun working on an engagement strategy focused on getting residents access to Home Energy Scores as well as investigating what metrics could be tracked to gauge impact (or not) of the HERD ordinance. More work is needed to confirm precisely what can be collected and at what interval to understand, to the fullest extent possible, the impacts HERD is having on the marketplace.
Budget or Fiscal Impact: There is likely little to no budget impact associated with this resolution.
Staff
Prepared by: Missy Stults, Sustainability and Innovations Director
Reviewed by: Sam Firke, Data Analyst in Information Technology
Approved by: Milton Dohoney, Jr., City Administrator
Body
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor has set aggressive climate and energy goals, including the goal of achieving a just transition to community-wide carbon neutrality by the year 2030;
Whereas, It is well-established that those who are low-income or with other marginalized identities are disproportionately impacted by the consequences of climate change;
Whereas, On September 5, 2023 Ann Arbor City Council formally adopted a Home Energy Rating Disclosure ordin...
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