The Home Energy Score Program exemplifies everything that is wrong with Eugene’s governance. Despite declining revenue and trying every dodgy workaround (for example, fire and stormwater fees) to raise money while threatening to cut popular programs like the library to coerce voter compliance, it seems like a City Council majority just can’t resist adding staff, increasing bureaucracy and spending money they say we don’t have.

The concept of a home energy score seems like a reasonable exercise to inform buyers of a home’s energy efficiency. The $70,000 to $90,000 a year (to start) in taxpayer money to run the program would be a minor expense — in a flush budget environment. But we don’t have that. While high scores lead buyers to pay more, a seller is going to highlight heat pumps and new windows anyway. It does help inexperienced buyers to better gauge expenses and get a discount on an inefficient house. But does that lead to more energy efficiency and fewer carbon emissions? Only if upgrades result. The ordinance does not address that. It is a concept of a plan to potentially save energy.

Why spend money on something that might help those who can afford to buy, when the city can’t seem to fund the basic services the majority desire? The program’s yearly costs would go a long way for neighborhood services, the library or emergency preparedness. It would reverse the state funding cut suffered by the Springfield Eugene Tenants Alliance. At least the half of the population that rents would benefit, unlike with the home energy score.

If the City Council is bound and determined to spend dollars we don’t have to help meet our climate goals, then give it to the Eugene Water & Electric Board to install heat pumps in low-income households or affordable rentals. That would directly and immediately save energy, help the working poor, and improve the city’s (more) affordable housing stock, as well as stimulate the local economy, with no new costly bureaucracy.

Focus people! Spend your time fixing our revenue issues, then you can pay for the next shiny object that catches your eye.

Ted Coopman
Eugene