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| The above from a NHD Report- Remember to discuss this with your client |
New Regulations Set to Impact California Homeowners
The first of the new regulations from the U.S. Department of Energy mandates that effective January 1, 2015 the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) for air conditioners would increase from 13 to 14. For those unfamiliar with SEER, it is a calculation based on how much a unit cools compared to the amount of energy the device consumes while cooling. As the SEER rating gets higher, the unit becomes more energy efficient but also more expensive.
SEER 14 is different from past energy mandates because unlike past mandates, in almost all cases, a full system replacement (both the indoor and outdoor unit) will be necessary to make the system compatible.” While this may be a costly replacement in and of itself, if the new unit doesn’t properly fit the existing space, structural modifications may needed – further increasing the price tag homeowners face.
Unfortunately, total energy savings will vary based on location, amount of use and the rating of your current condenser, but homeowners can expect a new condenser to cost roughly 55-66% higher than that of a SEER 13 unit.
Many of the SEER requirements, both from former regulations and new are climate zone dependent. It is important that brokers and agents provide SEER requirements to buyers of residential property that accurately reflects the requirements of the specific parcel under the law and not just provide a generic advisory. A high quality NHD report will include this parcel specific information. Check to make sure your NHD provider discloses this information and not just advises that regulations exist.
The second change in regulation comes as an amendment to the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act. Starting on April 16, 2015 the Department of Energy will require that new water heaters meet a higher energy factor rating, regardless of whether it uses gas, electricity or oil – a change that will impact not only homeowners, but manufacturers and sellers alike. This change will impact some homeowners differently though, ultimately depending on their water heater’s fuel source. And similar to replacing an air conditioner, there could be some hidden costs if the new unit doesn’t fit the allotted space properly.
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| This is not updated but interesting |
