Chapter 13.20
ENERGY PROGRAMS
Sections:
13.20.020 Municipal solar utility.
13.20.030 Time-of-sale residential weatherization disclosure.
13.20.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this article is to set forth various programs of the city to encourage the use of alternative sources of energy, to make more efficient use of existing energy sources, and to promote conservation programs.
(Code 1965, § 7900; Code 2002, § 110-211. Ord. No. 83-27)
13.20.020 Municipal solar utility.
(a) Purpose.
(1) The purpose of this section is to grant authority to the City Council to establish a municipal solar utility.
(2) The welfare of the citizens of the city has been jeopardized in the past by shortages of natural gas, petroleum, propane, and electric power. The shortage of available energy supplies is expected to continue unless measures are established to conserve available energy. It is declared to be the policy of the City Council to encourage and promote the use of solar energy in order to prevent or reduce any adverse impact upon the economy and residents of the city due to the shortage of and/or high cost of energy in the future.
(b) Establishment of utility. The City Council hereby establishes itself as the City of Concord Solar Utility with authority to establish such rules, regulations, and procedures which are necessary to implement the policies set forth in subsection (a) of this section.
(Code 1965, § 7901; Code 2002, § 110-212. Ord. No. 1248; Ord. No. 83-27)
13.20.030 Time-of-sale residential weatherization disclosure.
(a) Policy and purpose. Voluntary weatherization of existing residential dwellings saves energy, promotes the economic and general welfare of the city, and protects the public health. The purpose of this section is to encourage the voluntary weatherization of residential dwellings by requiring that sellers of residential dwellings provide prospective buyers with information on the existence of specific energy-saving weatherization devices within such dwellings.
(b) Weatherization disclosure requirements. Every seller of a residential dwelling building containing one through four dwelling units shall provide to all prospective buyers of the dwelling, on an approved standardized form, written information on whether all of the following energy-saving devices exist on or in each dwelling unit:
(1) All accessible attic space above living area is insulated and, if known, the thermal resistance (R) value (as defined in section 2-5302 of title 24 of the California Administrative Code, as amended or recodified from time to time) of the insulation material.
(2) All doors and windows leading to unheated areas are weatherstripped.
(3) Hot water heater tanks are fitted with an insulation blanket or other insulation material.
(4) All accessible shower heads have flow restrictors or low-flow shower heads.
(5) All accessible heating and cooling ducts in unheated areas are insulated.
(6) All major joints and openings to the dwelling’s exterior, including switchplates and wall outlets, are caulked or sealed.
(c) Acknowledgement by buyer. Every buyer of a residential dwelling containing one through four dwelling units shall submit written acknowledgement of receipt of the information required by this section to the Energy Coordinator within 14 days after close of escrow or transfer of title to the property.
(d) Standardized form. The Energy Coordinator shall establish a standardized form to be used by sellers and buyers to comply with the requirements of this division.
(e) Effect of noncompliance on transfer of property. Failure of the seller and/or buyer to comply with the provisions of this division shall not affect the validity of the transfer of the property.
(f) Use of information. Information obtained pursuant to this section may be used for any lawful purpose, including, but not limited to, compilation of statistics to evaluate and monitor the effectiveness of this section.
(g) Publicizing of requirements. In order to assist those persons affected by the provisions of this section to become aware of and understand said provisions, the Energy Coordinator is authorized to cooperate with the private sector (including, but not limited to, the press and the Board of Realtors) and other public entities in publicizing its requirements.
(Code 1965, § 7902; Code 2002, § 110-213. Ord. No. 83-27)