Cities pass efficiency-focused legislation

An energy auditor performs a blower door test.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom signed legislation in Mid-February to establish GreenFinanceSF, one of the nation's largest property assessed clean energy (PACE) programs to make homes and businesses more energy efficient. The program, which begins March 1, allows San Francisco property owners to finance water conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements through a voluntary special property tax.

Residential and commercial buildings of all sizes will be eligible for the program and property owners must apply to join a new citywide Mello-Roos special tax district (pdf). If approved, they then have to file documents authorizing the levy of a special tax against their property. In return for opting into the district and agreeing to pay the special tax over the life of the financing, the building owner receives funds to pay the up-front cost of the approved improvements.

Energy efficiency upgrades such as adding insulation, replacing windows, and upgrading heating systems; water efficiency upgrades, such as installing low flow toilets; and installation of renewable energy generation on buildings such as solar arrays will be eligible for financing under the legislation.

In other West Coast city legislation news, Seattle passed legislation in late January that aims to identify energy-wasting buildings and aid property owners’ improvements. The Energy Disclosure Ordinance is identical to the state's Energy Efficiency First legislation except that it adds requirements for large commercial and multi-family property owners in Seattle to benchmark and annually measure energy use and provide the city with ratings to allow comparison across different buildings. Building owners will also be required to share energy usage and ratings with prospective buyers, tenants and lenders during the sale, lease or financing of properties.

According to Mayor Mike McGinn, city residents and property owners will be provided with the tools they need to make necessary improvements.