Home Energy Score Model Ordinance

One of the TCMC’s 2024 regional initiatives is to create a model ordinance for a regionally coordinated home energy score disclosure program. A Home Energy Score (HES) is a standardized rating system for home efficiency, developed by the U.S. Department of Energy, which can be adopted readily by local governments. A HES looks at the assets and infrastructure of the home to estimate energy use/costs and provide recommendations to cost-effectively improve the home’s efficiency. This information allows prospective homebuyers to consider the home’s energy burden as part of their purchase decision and financing. The model ordinance is expected to be considered by the TCMC City Councils and Board of County Commissioners in 2025 for potential adoption.

Upcoming and Recent HES Ordinance meetings at Jurisdictions:

Olympia:

Land Use & Environment Committee Meeting (2/20/2025)

City Council Study Session (3/11/2025)

Olympia has delayed future action on the Home Energy Score model ordinance until other TCMC jurisdictions are ready to consider the ordinance for adoption

Lacey:

The city of Lacey will place the HES model ordinance on their 2026 workplan in early 2026 for consideration and adoption by the city council; staff will begin working internally on this action in late 2025.

Tumwater:

The city of Tumwater is currently meeting internally to discuss anticipated enforcement issues. The ordinance will not move forward until those issues are resolved.

Thurston County:

County staff provided an email brief about the HES model ordinance to the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) in late 2024. The County has not had the staff capacity to advance the ordinance; however, staff are currently integrating this action into the Implementation Plan of the County’s new Comprehensive Plan Climate Element. The next step will be to hold a work session with the BoCC on the ordinance.

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