Comments on: Now You’ll Need an “Efficiency Audit” to Sell Your Home http://www.aboutitall.com/2008/12/29/flood-warnings-in-oregon-2/ -- An Oregon Perspective -- Thu, 25 Mar 2010 08:42:10 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Rob Salzman http://www.aboutitall.com/2008/12/29/flood-warnings-in-oregon-2/comment-page-1/#comment-5 Rob Salzman Tue, 30 Dec 2008 08:16:24 +0000 http://www.aboutitall.com/2008/12/29/flood-warnings-in-oregon-2/#comment-5 Dunno. Last time I bought a house, I paid for my own inspector. He tested the furnace, found windows where the seal was busted, etc. It wasn't an "energy audit", but I had an accurate picture of what I was getting into. It cost me about 300 bucks for him. He also looked for a bunch of stuff that wasn't energy related - pests, wood rot, roof, insulation, drainage. The energy audit feels like a mandate telling the prudent buyer to do what he is already doing. I just expect that this will add to the cost of selling a home, without any real benefit. I wonder if the mandate will spin up a new Department of Household Efficiency in Oregon, (take time and money from more pressing issues). Dunno. Last time I bought a house, I paid for my own inspector. He tested the furnace, found windows where the seal was busted, etc. It wasn’t an “energy audit”, but I had an accurate picture of what I was getting into. It cost me about 300 bucks for him. He also looked for a bunch of stuff that wasn’t energy related – pests, wood rot, roof, insulation, drainage.

The energy audit feels like a mandate telling the prudent buyer to do what he is already doing. I just expect that this will add to the cost of selling a home, without any real benefit. I wonder if the mandate will spin up a new Department of Household Efficiency in Oregon, (take time and money from more pressing issues).

]]> By: t.a. barnhart http://www.aboutitall.com/2008/12/29/flood-warnings-in-oregon-2/comment-page-1/#comment-4 t.a. barnhart Tue, 30 Dec 2008 04:42:35 +0000 http://www.aboutitall.com/2008/12/29/flood-warnings-in-oregon-2/#comment-4 it's different because an efficiency audit is a series of tests, done by a professional (probably thru the Oregon Energy Trust) that shows empirically the state of the house. an audit will show where insulation is needed, window replacement, leaks thru electrical sockets, etc. these are already available, for free, and to mandate them is no different than mandating cars pass a DEQ inspection. few of us want smoke-spewing junkers on the road, and i don't think anyone wants to get stuck with a lemon of a house that doubles their energy costs. research: it's never a bad thing to do before criticizing something. it’s different because an efficiency audit is a series of tests, done by a professional (probably thru the Oregon Energy Trust) that shows empirically the state of the house. an audit will show where insulation is needed, window replacement, leaks thru electrical sockets, etc. these are already available, for free, and to mandate them is no different than mandating cars pass a DEQ inspection. few of us want smoke-spewing junkers on the road, and i don’t think anyone wants to get stuck with a lemon of a house that doubles their energy costs.

research: it’s never a bad thing to do before criticizing something.

]]> By: Chris Moran http://www.aboutitall.com/2008/12/29/flood-warnings-in-oregon-2/comment-page-1/#comment-2 Chris Moran Mon, 29 Dec 2008 21:54:22 +0000 http://www.aboutitall.com/2008/12/29/flood-warnings-in-oregon-2/#comment-2 Nice writing style. Looking forward to reading more from you. Chris Moran Nice writing style. Looking forward to reading more from you.

Chris Moran

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