As a homeowner in Bend, Oregon, you may be wondering if you need a Bend Home Energy Score under the City of Bend’s Home Energy Score Requirement starting July 1st, 2023. At A Quality Measurement, we are authorized Home Energy Assessors in Bend and are here to help answer this common question in three simple steps.
Step 1: Determine if you need a Bend Home Energy Score
Bend Draft Policy explains that homes covered by the Residential Energy Performance Rating and Disclosure are as follows:
“Covered building means any residential structure containing a single dwelling unit or
manufactured dwelling, regardless of size, on its own lot or parcel, or any attached single
dwelling unit, regardless of whether it is located on its own lot or parcel, where each unit
extends from foundation to roof, such as an attached accessory dwelling unit (ADU),
duplex, triplex, quadplex or townhouse. Covered building does not include detached
accessory dwelling units, stacked condominiums or dwelling units where the unit does not
extend from foundation to roof (ADUs can be stacked), or single dwelling units used
solely for commercial purposes.“
The above is confusing and I think we can make it simple. If you are listing your home on the market and your home is a detached home or attached on the sides only like a townhome, you will be required to get a score. However, if your home is stacked like a high-rise or low-rise condo with homes above or below, you will not be required to get a score. It doesn’t matter if your home is a plex, condo, or townhome; what matters is how it is constructed and if the home extends from the foundation to the roof.
For example, if your home is a townhouse style plex with five units side-by-side or townhouse condos with five units side-by-side, each unit would require a score regardless of plex or condo ownership. If your home has a detached ADU, then it does not require a score. However, if your home has a built-in ADU, then it would be scored the same as a single-family home and would require a score.
One added note. The City of Bend draft policy covers manufactured homes. This is in anticipation of an update to the HES scoring tool that allows Home Energy Assessors to score manufactured homes. Once the update to the scoring tool goes into effect, the City of Bend will begin enforcing scores manufactured homes listed for sale. This should happen late in 2023.
Step 2: Verify if your home is within the city limits of Bend
It is important to verify if your home is within the city limits of Bend. It doesn’t matter if your home has a Bend address; it just matters that it’s within the city limits and annexed by the city. You can search Bend Maps to confirm if your home is within the city limits.
Step 3: Check if your home has had a prior Bend Home Energy Score
If you think your home may have had a Bend Home Energy Score in the past, you can search www.GreenBuildingRegistry.com to identify the prior score. Scores are good for eight years if one has already been posted on the registry.
If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at A Quality Measurement. We are always happy to help by phone, text, or email. You can also ask questions in the comments below.