Advocate for Energy Use Disclosure Requirements

An energy use disclosure mandate would require realtors, property owners, or managers to provide data on building energy usage to prospective tenants or home buyers. This disclosure could include actual historical utility data, averages of the energy use intensity, or estimates based from equipment and other characteristics to inform the potential occupants of their expected expenses.

These energy use disclosures increase the transparency of true building costs and protect tenants and purchasers. Inefficient building design, appliances, or maintenance can substantially increase both the cost of occupancy and the costs to the climate by wasting carbon-intensive energy. A disclosure takes the surprise out of the arrival of a home or building’s energy bills, where these hidden costs are revealed!

An energy use disclosure mandate can be a mechanism to incentivize investment in energy efficiency and renewable or alternative energy sources. Tenants and home buyers decision making is influenced by low energy costs and property owners respond to this market pressure to make improvements that save  occupants money and carbon emissions.

The City of Minneapolis passed a Time of Sale Energy Disclosure requirement that includes energy efficiency information on existing housing reports, as well as a Time of Rent Energy Disclosure that went into effect in 2021. These policies are aimed at providing housing protections while curbing greenhouse gas emissions as part of Minneapolis’ Climate Action Plan. The City of Bloomington also enacted energy disclosure requirements that went into effect in 2022.