Austin building owners:

What is the Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure Ordinance?

ECAD requires energy disclosures from all buildings within the City of Austin that are served by Austin Energy. Energy disclosure will promote more efficient building practices and will help reduce the environmental impact of the built environment.

Purpose

ECAD is part of Austin’s Climate Protection Plan and its purpose is to improve energy efficiency in buildings. Austin hopes to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by over 365,000 metric tons and offset 800 megawatts of peak energy demand by 2020. By benchmarking energy across all building sizes, Austin is setting a strong example for cities that want to go green.

Does it impact me?

ECAD impacts commercial, multifamily and residential building owners. Commercial buildings larger than 10,000 square feet are required to submit annual rating reports. Multifamily buildings with five or more units are required to have an energy audit every 10 years.

Residential homes that are at least 10 years old with fewer than four units must undergo an energy audit before a sale, and the findings must be provided to prospective buyers.

What are the deadlines?

• June 1st of each year is the compliance deadline for commercial building owners.
• The residential home deadline is prior to sale.

Multifamily properties must undergo an energy audit the year the property turns 10 years old. This audit is valid for 10 more years at which point another audit is required.

What are the fines?

Noncompliance with ECAD for commercial, multifamily, and residential buildings can result in fines from $500 to $2,000.

How do I comply?

Commercial building owners must report their energy usage data to EPA’s Portfolio Manager, a reporting tool that allows building owners to compare their building’s energy efficiency with similar buildings.

All multifamily and residential energy audit reports must be completed and submitted by qualified ECAD energy professionals.