Realtors target new green remodeling idea

AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN) - The Austin Board of Realtors have launched a radio and website campaign to oppose a proposed "green" remodeling ordinance, but city leaders say Realtors may have jumped the gun on an idea that has yet to be reviewed or approved. 

If you listen to Austin radio, then you've probably heard the ads. "It's already expensive to live in Austin. Don't let red tape and more regulation make it worse. We simply can't afford it."

Some members of City Council -- and even Mayor Will Wynn -- say the ads are misleading because a task force has just begun to discuss whether the concept to require "green" remodeling is a good idea and what an ordinance might include. But that hasn't stopped an aggressive campaign against it from Realtors who already are facing a tough market.

The idea of "green" building and remodeling is to maximize energy efficiency in a home. That could mean anything from high-efficiency water heaters to proper air sealing to low-toxic interior paints. The Energy Efficiency Retrofit Task Force, appointed in December, is intended to craft a resolution that would require energy efficiency upgrades whenever a home is sold.

This is part of Wynn's overall goal to make Austin one of the "greenest" cities in the country. Even in a community as environmentally friendly as Austin, though, the price of such an ordinance might be too high.

The Austin Board of Realtors estimates the cost of home retrofits could be anywhere from $1,500 to $15,000, depending on the age and condition of the home. Wynn disputes the claim in the ad that the city will require homeowners to spend thousands in upgrades before they're allowed to sell their homes.

"I'm really disappointed that certain individuals have spread a bunch of misinformation, just to stir up hearburn when there really shouldn't be," Wynn said. "We're not going to go in and make an existing homeowner upgrade his home, although it might make sense financially, if they studied it."

Instead, the task force will likely require that the buyer pay for the upgrades within a certain period of time after a purchase. Wynn said the cost of the improvements will be more than justified by savings on energy costs. He added that newer homes could be exempted from teh ordinance, and the cost of the upgrades could be capped.

The Austin Board of Realtors also has created a website, Keep Austin Affordable , designed to inform the public about the issue and encourage people to call their council members.

"We need to hear from them," Council Member Sheryl Cole said. "We try to make decisions based on what the public wants us to do. We're not in an ivory tower."