Montpelier Passes Home Energy Labeling Ordinance

In May 2021, the Montpelier City Council passed a new ordinance requiring home sellers to the estimated energy use of their home at the time of listing.

The purpose of the ordinance is to provide information to homebuyers about residential building energy performance. This information is designed to protect consumers, to enable more knowledgeable decisions about the full costs of operating homes, and to motivate investments in home improvements that lower energy bills, reduce carbon emissions, increase comfort, safety and health for homeowners.

• Homeowners can identify energy- and cost-saving recommendations for home improvements, and receive a better valuation of existing energy efficiency features and improvements in the real estate market when selling their home.

• Prospective homebuyers will gain more information about the operational costs of owning the houses under their consideration and receive a better valuation of existing energy efficiency features and improvements. This information can also be used in negotiating a mortgage rate.

• Real estate professionals will be better informed on how energy efficient a home is, enabling them to more confidently market energy efficiency features.

Sellers can create their Vermont Home Energy Profile (VHEP) for free, and it takes about 15-20 minutes for most homeowners. When a home is listed for sale, a copy of the profile should be provided to all licensed agents working on the seller’s behalf, to all prospective buyers, and to the buyer at closing.

Have questions? Learn more at https://www.netzeromontpelier.org/home-energy-information-ordinance.