FAQs

The Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure (ECAD) ordinance defines a multifamily property as a property with five or more units.

Yes. Condominiums and town homes must have an energy audit under the ECAD ordinance. Only owners of five or more condominium units at one site must have an ECAD multifamily energy audit and follow those disclosure guidelines.

If you own five or more at one property, you must get an energy audit for your property. If you own four or less, you follow ECAD for Residential Homes rules.

ECAD Energy Guides are set annually with new average per-square-foot-area energy use for multifamily properties. They are available the first quarter of each year to properties with ECAD energy audits on file.

The ECAD ordinance requires that multifamily properties post ECAD audit results at the property and provide them to current and prospective residents.

The ECAD audit must be performed by an auditor who is a certified Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) Rater or a Building Performance Institute (BPI) Building Analyst Professional. Austin Energy maintains a Web-based list of certified ECAD Energy Professionals who have registered with Austin Energy (pdf).

Learn more about ECAD Energy Professionals

A multifamily property is considered high energy use if its per-square-foot energy use exceeds 150% of the average energy use of multifamily properties within the same category in the Austin Energy service area.

Austin Energy will notify owners if their multifamily property is a high energy use property. Owners must then complete the energy efficiency retrofits needed to reduce the property's per-square-foot energy usage by 20%.

Owners have 18 months from the date of notification to make energy efficiency improvements, or they may request an extension within 90 days of receiving notice.

Each property has unique requirements but Austin Energy will work with the property owners on recommendations to achieve the 20% savings.

The most common cost-effective upgrades include air duct sealing, attic insulation, and solar screens or window film. Austin Energy has rebates for owners to improve the multifamily property’s energy efficiency.

Yes. They are qualified to audit both, but may choose to specialize in only one property type.

The City of Austin Data Portal can help you with your search for energy-efficient apartment properties in the Austin Energy service area. With the Data Portal, you can gain access to valuable energy audit results for Austin’s multifamily properties to help you make an informed decision about your next residence.

The ECAD ordinance does not require multifamily properties to make energy efficiency improvements. However, duct system and Austin Energy Rebates and Incentives or an equivalent Austin Energy program can exempt the property from the ECAD audit requirement if improvements are completed before the property turns 10 years old.

Austin Energy offers a variety of energy efficiency programs that include rebates for owners of residential, multifamily, and commercial buildings.