Bill Text: NJ A2127 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires licensed home inspector to report an energy rating for each home inspected for buyer in contemplation of purchase.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-02-11 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee [A2127 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-A2127-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman UPENDRA J. CHIVUKULA
District 17 (Middlesex and Somerset)
SYNOPSIS
Requires licensed home inspector to report an energy rating for each home inspected for buyer in contemplation of purchase.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning home energy ratings and supplementing P.L.1997, c.323 (C.45:8-61 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Commissioner of Community Affairs, in consultation with the Board of Public Utilities and the Home Inspection Advisory Committee in the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety, shall adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), an energy rating code for the purpose of establishing adequate and appropriate standards to rate the energy efficiency of homes. The energy rating code shall incorporate aspects of the New Jersey Energy Star Program.
2. Every home inspection performed by a licensed home inspector during the course of an inspection in contemplation of the purchase of a residential property shall include a report containing the energy rating for the home, prepared in accordance with the energy rating code established pursuant to section 1 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
3. This act shall take effect immediately but shall remain inoperative until the promulgation of an energy rating code pursuant to section 1 of this act.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs, in consultation with the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) and the Home Inspection Advisory Committee in the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety, to adopt an energy rating code to be used by licensed home inspectors in the preparation of an energy rating for a house inspected for a buyer in contemplation of its purchase. The code is to incorporate aspects of the New Jersey Energy Star Program, which encourages products to meet or exceed energy-efficiency guidelines set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE). Currently, the BPU operates a "Home Performance with ENERGY STARŪ" program in Atlantic County, with an intention to expand the program to the rest of the State. The goal of that initiative, according to the BPU website, is to offer "state residents access to trained, certified home improvement contractors that deliver state-of-the-art energy-efficiency improvements to their home. In addition the program provides extensive technical training, financial incentives and business development support to established contractors and professional tradespeople, with the purpose of increasing market opportunities for energy-efficiency services within the state." Drawing on that expertise, the Commissioner of Community Affairs would adopt and promulgate an energy rating code that would be used by every licensed home inspector to produce a report containing the energy rating for a home inspected in contemplation of its purchase.
