KEEP BEND AFFORDABLE
Tell the City Council to keep home energy scores a choice
What Can I Do?
Come make your voice heard at the Bend City Council meeting on November 16 at 7 PM at City Hall, or email councilall@bendoregon.gov.
Tell the council that a home energy score should be a choice, not another cost to buy or sell a home.
What you need to know about the Mandatory Home Energy Score Program
WHAT IS THE MANDATORY HOME ENERGY SCORE PROGRAM?
The Bend City Council will soon vote on a mandatory home energy score program. This program would require that a score be obtained to list a home. Until now, the city’s climate action plan outlined voluntary actions for the community to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This new change in the program is not in keeping with the spirit of the popular climate action plan — and not what we were promised.
WHY NOW?
Our city is growing and so is the cost of housing. With a population of 100,000 — and this number is increasing by approximately 12 people every day — our housing supply can’t keep up. The median cost of a home in Bend is now over $750,000. The Mandatory Home Energy Score Program would be yet another cost, adding more complexity to the process for homebuyers.
WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF THIS PROGRAM?
The fee to obtain a score is yet another cost in the home buying process and has a direct impact on affordability. Failure to comply with this program change could result in a fine of up to $750. The score could also stigmatize older homes and create a bottleneck because there are currently not enough professionals trained to perform home energy scores in Bend.
The wrong approach at the wrong time – a home energy score should be a choice.
What Can I Do?
Come make your voice heard at the Bend City Council meeting on November 16 at 7 PM at City Hall, or email councilall@bendoregon.gov.
Tell the council that a home energy score should be a choice, not another cost to buy or sell a home.
