These are the steps to follow to comply with the HERD ordinance:
Join the "HERD"!
As part of the A2ZERO Plan, the Office of Sustainability and Innovations continues to work on policies, initiatives, and programs to help our community reduce the carbon emissions from buildings. The latest of these policies prioritizes single family homes and was unanimously passed by City Council on September 5, 2023 (and took effect 3/12/24). Known as the Home Energy Rating Disclosure (HERD) Ordinance, this policy will provide consumer protections for home buyers by helping them understand the energy efficiency of the homes on the market in Ann Arbor. This will be accomplished by requiring a simple Home Energy Score (HES) assessment to be conducted before the home lists for sale. HERD makes a home's energy use easy to understand, like a miles-per-gallon/charge rating for a vehicle.
Read the ordinance language as passed by City Council: Chapter 102 Home Energy Rating Disclosure - ORD23-26
For more information, please check out the HERD FAQ
HERD and the HES
The HERD program utilizes the U.S. Department of Energy’s
Home Energy Score (HES). The Home Energy Score rates homes on a simple 1–10 scale, with 10 being the most efficient. It comes with a report that suggests ways a homeowner can increase their score and decrease their utility bills, and is useful for buyers who want to compare credible information about home energy costs.
Learn more about the Home Energy Score.
When preparing to list a home, homeowners or real estate agents should
schedule a HES Assessment with a certified assessor. The City of Ann Arbor provides this service for free. Home sellers can also hire their own certified assessor.
See a list of local assessors. Once complete, homeowners will receive the HES and accompanying report.
HERD and Ann Arbor's Climate Goals
In Ann Abor,
around 23% of our greenhouse gas emissions come from residential buildings (or 66% for all buildings). Voluntary efforts to reduce energy consumption in our homes make a difference, but we cannot achieve our climate goals without increasing energy efficiency in the residential sector. The HERD program will help by providing buyers and sellers with a roadmap for cost-effective improvements that will improve their homes and health while accelerating our progress to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.
