Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure Ordinance
Required Energy Audits Help Identify Savings Opportunities
The Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure (ECAD) ordinance, as described in Chapter 6-7 Energy Conservation of the Austin City Code (pdf), requires energy audits and disclosures for all homes and buildings which are served by Austin Energy and located within Austin city limits.
ECAD promotes energy efficiency by identifying potential energy-saving improvements in homes, businesses, and multifamily properties. Improving energy efficiency in your home or business can:
- Make your home or business more comfortable
- Increase the value and marketability of your property
- Improve indoor air quality
- Save money and energy
| What Does ECAD Require? | What Do I Do? | Learn More | |
| Residential | |||
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Do you own a house and want to sell? |
Before selling your home, you must have an energy audit done if your home is 10 years or older. You must disclose the results to potential buyers. Exemptions or variances may apply. | Get a qualified ECAD Energy Professional to conduct the energy audit. | ECAD for Residential Customers |
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Do you own a duplex, triplex, or fourplex and want to sell? |
Before selling your property, you must have an energy audit done if your property is 10 years or older. You must disclose the results to potential buyers. Exemptions or variances may apply. | Get a qualified ECAD Energy Professional to conduct the energy audit. | ECAD for Residential Customers |
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Is there a residential property you want to buy? Are you a real estate agent? |
Sellers are required to conduct an energy audit on homes 10 years or older before sale and provide the results to buyers. | Ask the seller or seller's real estate agent for the energy audit results. | ECAD for Residential Customers |
| Commercial | |||
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Do you own or manage a commercial building that is 10,000 sq ft or larger? |
You must report your Energy Rating to the City of Austin by June 1 of each year. |
Use one of two reporting options to get your Energy Rating and report it to the City. |
ECAD for Commercial Buildings |
| Multifamily | |||
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Do you own or manage a property with five or more residential units? |
You must conduct a specialized energy audit of your property the year it turns 10 years old. You must make Energy Audit results available to potential and current residents. | Get a qualified ECAD Energy Professional to conduct the energy audit. | ECAD for Multifamily Properties |
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Are you a resident in a property with five or more residential units? Are you interested in moving to one? |
Multifamily properties are required to conduct specialized energy audits for properties 10 years or older. They must make the results available to potential and current residents. |
Ask your property manager for Energy Audit results. |
ECAD for Multifamily Properties |
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What do I do if an energy audit determines that my property is a High Energy Use Property? |
High Energy Use properties use 150% over average energy use for similar properties. These properties must reduce energy use by 20% and provide a High Energy Use report to current and prospective residents. | Austin Energy offers incentives for energy efficiency improvements that help reduce energy use. | ECAD for Multifamily Properties |
Contact Us
Please email ECAD or call 512-482-5346 if you have any questions or need additional information about the ECAD ordinance.
Date last reviewed or modified: 03/29/2024