Austin, TX

On Nov. 6, 2008, the Austin City Council approved the Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure Ordinance (ECAD.) The ordinance became effective in June 2009 and supports former Austin Mayor Will Wynn’s Climate Protection Plan, that aims to offset 700 megawatts of peak energy demand by 2020 in order to reduce Austin’s carbon footprint.

ECAD requires

  • Building energy rating and disclosure for nonresidential facilities
  • Mandatory energy audits for homes and apartment complexes
  •  Some apartment complexes to undergo energy retrofits
  • Austin commercial buildings that receive electricity from Austin Energy to have an Energy Star Portfolio Manager building rating by June 1,2011

ECAD Exemptions

The building does not need an energy rating if it meets one of the following conditions:

  • If the building is less than 10 years old on June 1, 2011, a rating must be submitted by the 10th anniversary of the year of construction
  • If the building is an industrial building

ECAD was crafted by the Austin Energy Efficiency Retrofit Task Force with input from local realtors and other parties and has become known as one of the most aggressive pieces of building energy efficiency legislation in the nation.

*Information provided courtesy of www.IMT.org