Clean Energy In the News

By STEVE ALBERTS
KVUE News

An Austin city task force looking into energy efficiency requirements has recently made its final recommendation.

If the recommendations are approved by council, it is estimated that property owners would spend more than $124 million for efficiency upgrades, but would save $555 million on their utility bills.

Charles DiTullio takes pride in the Sierra Ridge Apartments' community garden. His window overlooks the fresh vegetables and fruits. But that's not the only thing he cares about. Reducing his carbon footprint is also important. That's why he supports the mayor's task force on energy efficiency.

"My energy bills over the last 13 years have remained stable instead of going up like so many other people's," DiTullio said.

The task force recommends the city adopt an energy efficiency upgrade ordinance.

The ordinance would require homes, apartments and businesses to conduct an energy audit which would indicate how energy is being wasted and where cost effective improvements can be made. The cost for the audit is about $200-300 for a homeowner.

The results could be shared with Austin energy, current tenants and prospective buyers or renters.

Luke Metzger, Environment Texas director, said that it will arm consumers with information.

"They will have the full price of the home which is not just the mortgage payment or the rent bill, but it's also the energy bill that in the summertime several hundreds of dollars," he said.

At a news conference on Monday, a coalition of housing, consumer and environmental advocates called on the City of Austin to adopt the new energy efficiency standards saying it would reduce our energy use, save money and protect the environment.

"This is one the cheapest and quickest things we can do to solve some of the very significant energy problems we have right now," said Metzger.

Walter Moreau is with Foundation Communities which owns the Sierra Ridge Apartments, an affordable housing complex. He wants the city to adopt the recommendation.

"How can we save money for residents? How can we save money on our energy bills? But the primary reason is it lowers our carbon footprint and impact we have on the environment," he said.

The task force members were divided over whether to make the upgrades mandatory at some point, but many in the real estate community don't want that.

Socar Chatmon -Thomas, chairman of the Austin Board of Realtors, wants the upgrades to be voluntary.

"That's what the task force said. We support that houses with energy audits let the buyers and sellers decide what they want to do let them do -- but keep it voluntary," she said.

Under the program, a homeowner would spend a little more than $1,000 on upgrades and receive annual savings of about $242.

Over 10 years the total savings from reduced energy bills would pay back the initial investment in upgrades and put $1,355 dollars in the home owner's pocket.