The city of Gainesville, Florida was recently recognized by the U.S. Dept. of Energy for an adopted ordinance that requires rental housing to receive a Home Energy Score during rental inspections.
The ordinance, believed to be the first of its kind in the U.S., applies to all rental units including quadruplexes and smaller properties. The city’s permit and inspection program aims to raise minimum energy efficiency, safety, and property maintenance standards for regulated residential rental units.
The Home Energy Score is a numerical rating from one to 10 that helps homeowners, buyers, and tenants understand how energy-efficient a home or rental unit is and how it compares to other units. The score is based on a unit’s envelope—roof, foundation, walls, insulation, and windows, and its energy systems—heating, cooling, and hot water. The higher the score, the higher a unit’s energy efficiency.
As a DOE 2022 Annual Partner Innovation Award program partner, Gainesville is required to inspect a minimum of 500 homes per year. More than 440 rental units have been scored to date.
Related Stories
| Aug 11, 2010
Sika Sarnafil announces 2009 Project of the Year winners
Sika Sarnafil announced winners of the second annual Sika Sarnafil Roof Consultant Project of the Year competition today. First place was awarded to SRI Consultants, Inc., of Middleton, WI; second place to INSPEC, Inc., of Minneapolis, MN; and Simpson, Gumpertz & Heger of Los Angeles, California, won the third place honor. The competition recognizes and celebrates excellence in roofing design.
| Aug 11, 2010
Kingspan insulated panels showcase net-zero energy modeling
Kingspan Insulated Panels, Inc. is demonstrating energy modeling programs to illustrate how far Envelope First Strategies could advance beyond Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), Energy Code and the Department of Energy (DOE) Net-Zero Energy goal of 2025. Kingspan will showcase the models in their exhibit (#954) during the Greenbuild 2009 International Conference and Expo, November 11-13 in Phoenix.
| Aug 11, 2010
Green Guide for Health Care launches pilot program, looks for participants
In first quarter 2010, the Green Guide for Health Care, in collaboration with Practice Greenhealth, is launching a one-year Green Guide for Health Care Operations Pilot Program for healthcare organizations engaged in any or all aspects of green operations initiatives, based on Green Guide v2.2 Operations section.
| Aug 11, 2010
Report: Most data centers are too cold
A recent study (PDF) by server and computing giants shows that data centers are wasting energy-and money-by over-cooling their servers, according to a story in The Register.
| Aug 11, 2010
New landscape rating system launches, completes green building puzzle
On November 5, 2009, the Sustainable Sites Initiative released the nation's first rating system for the design, construction and maintenance of sustainable landscapes, with or without buildings.
| Aug 11, 2010
Sustainable Buildings as Teaching Tools: 4 Strategies for Integrating Buildings into Experiential Learning
4 Strategies for Integrating Buildings into Experiential Learning
| Aug 11, 2010
Las Vegas announces Green Building Rebate Program
The city of Las Vegas announced it will begin a Green Building Rebate Program to stimulate new green building construction and provide energy efficiency retrofits to existing buildings. The green building program provides rebates for new construction and existing commercial and residential retrofits for buildings who construct buildings or projects to green building program standards.
| Aug 11, 2010
Morphosis builds 'floating' house for Brad Pitt's Make It Right New Orleans foundation
Morphosis Architects, under the direction of renowned architect and UCLA professor Thom Mayne, has completed the first floating house permitted in the U.S. for Brad Pitt’s Make It Right Foundation in New Orleans.The FLOAT House is a new model for flood-safe, affordable, and sustainable housing that is designed to float securely with rising water levels.
