The Massachusetts Senate has passed what may become the first requirement by a state to have home sellers provide prospective buyers with an audit that shows the full energy costs of a home.
The provision, part of an omnibus energy bill passed unanimously by the state Senate late Wednesday night, would create a standardized rating system to be used for every Massachusetts home put on the market. A similar home-scoring measure was dropped from the energy bill passed last fall by the Massachusetts House, so the two branches must negotiate whether to include it in any final legislation.
The Senate proposal would also give home buyers the right to see the seller's utility bills. It would establish a state committee that would design an energy-efficiency rating to be used on homes. This could take various forms, such as a single performance number for each house or a comparison of the house's oil, natural gas, and electricity use or other efficiency measures to a minimum standard.
The state's real estate industry strongly opposes the energy scoring plan, arguing that the additional costs imposed on sellers would further slow housing sales during a down market. In the face of such opposition, the Senate agreed to amend the bill to allow home buyers to waive the energy scoring and also back the implementation date of the tests by one year, to Jan. 1, 2010.
Senator Michael Morrissey, Democrat of Quincy, said yesterday that informed consumers are crucial partners in the state's efforts to reduce energy consumption at a time of near $100-a-barrel oil and potential shortfalls in energy supplies.
"It's meant to provide them with as much information as they could for the largest single purchase they will make in their lifetime," Morrissey said.
The bill is also intended to give homeowners new incentives to improve insulation and install more efficient heating systems, lighting systems, and appliances to improve a home's energy efficiency in anticipation of a sale. Home buyers and sellers, the senator said, "can really help us out because we're going to be in a real pinch and squeeze in the next few years."
Morrissey is optimistic a compromise can be reached between the Senate and House on the plan. The proposal drew support from utilities, energy-efficiency advocates, environmentalists, consumer groups, and energy services firms.
But the real estate industry is concerned about the cost of the energy scoring test to sellers - at least $200, brokers estimate.
"We don't think the proposed home energy scoring system is one that's workable for us," said Greg Vasil, chief executive of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board, which represents agents.
Massachusetts could become the first state to adopt a required energy rating system, said Stephen Cowell, chief executive of Conservation Services Group, a Westborough nonprofit that provides energy efficiency services to homeowners and that worked on the bill.
Other states have or are considering similar energy ratings. E-Star Colorado provides homeowners with ratings and advice on how to improve energy efficiency, and New Jersey lawmakers are considering a mandated rating system during home inspections.
"This is going to be a terrific boon to consumers to understand what they're purchasing," said Jim O'Reilly, director of public policy for Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, a Lexington nonprofit that promotes energy efficiency.
An energy rating system - and resulting upgrades - could save homeowners thousands of dollars during the average seven-year period of homeownership, he said.
Kimberly Blanton can be reached at blanton@globe.com.
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