An Act to establish home energy efficiency ratings

This bill establishes a voluntary municipal program requiring energy assessments and standardized energy performance ratings for residential homes before sale or lease in Massachusetts. It defines key terms like "energy assessment" (an on-site evaluation of a home's energy use) and "energy performance rating" (a standardized score valid for 8 years), and mandates that assessors provide these ratings to owners, buyers, and the state. The program provides grants to municipalities, nonprofits, and energy assessors to cover costs like assessments, training, and adapting software, while ensuring ratings exclude unnecessary personal data. Homeowners and landlords will face new compliance costs for assessments, but the program is opt-in for municipalities and does not apply to new construction.