2007 California Public Resources Code Chapter 10.8. Home Energy And Labeling Program

CA Codes (prc:25942)

25942.  (a) On or before  July 1, 1995, the commission shall
establish criteria for adopting a statewide home energy rating
program for residential dwellings.  The program criteria shall
include, but are not limited to, all of the following elements:
   (1) Consistent, accurate, and uniform ratings based on a single
statewide rating scale.
   (2) Reasonable estimates of potential utility bill savings, and
reliable recommendations on cost-effective measures to improve energy
efficiency.
   (3) Training and certification procedures for home raters and
quality assurance procedures to promote accurate ratings and to
protect consumers.
   (4) In coordination with home energy rating service organization
data bases, procedures to establish a centralized, publicly
accessible, data base that includes a uniform reporting system for
information on residential dwellings, excluding proprietary
information, needed to facilitate the program.  There shall be no
public access to information in the data base concerning specific
dwellings without the owner's or occupant's permission.
   (5) Labeling procedures that will meet the needs of home buyers,
homeowners, renters, the real estate industry, and mortgage lenders
with an interest in home energy ratings.
   (b) The commission shall adopt the program pursuant to subdivision
(a) in consultation with representatives of the Department of Real
Estate, the Department of Housing and Community Development, the
Public Utilities Commission, investor-owned and municipal utilities,
cities and counties, real estate licensees, home builders, mortgage
lenders, home appraisers and inspectors, home energy rating
organizations, contractors who provide home energy services, consumer
groups, and environmental groups.
   (c) On and after  January 1, 1996, no home energy rating services
may be performed in this state unless the services have been
certified, if such a certification program is available, by the
commission to be in compliance with the program criteria specified in
subdivision (a) and, in addition, are in conformity with any other
applicable element of the program.
   (d) On or before  July 1, 1996, the commission shall consult with
the agencies and organizations described in subdivision (b), to
facilitate a public information program to inform homeowners, rental
property owners, renters, sellers, and others of the existence of the
statewide home energy rating program adopted by the commission.
   (e) Beginning with the 1998 biennial energy conservation report
required by Section 25401.1, the commission shall, as part of that
biennial report, report on the progress made to implement a statewide
home energy rating program.  The report shall include an evaluation
of the energy savings attributable to the program, and a
recommendation concerning which means and methods will be most
efficient and cost-effective to induce home energy ratings for
residential dwellings.