Resolve, To Establish Energy Standards for Residential Rental Properties
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 1098
Committee: Utilities and Energy
Sponsors: EDER, STRThfLING, DAVIS, DUDLEY

Legislative Document 
No. 1098 
H.P.751 
House of Representatives, March 1,2005 
Resolve, To Establish Energy Standards for Residential Rental 
Properties 
Reference to the Committee on Utilities and Energy suggested and ordered printed. 
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Presented by Representative EDER of Portland. 
Cosponsored by Senator STRThfLING of Cumberland and 
Representatives: DAVIS of Falmouth, DUDLEY of Portland. 
Print~J on rel:ycled paper 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Sec. 1. Establishment of energy standards for residential rental 
properties. Resolved: 
That the Public Utilities Commission shall 
study energy standards 
for existing 
and 
new 
construction of 
residential rental properties 
and shall 
report to 
the Joint 
Standing Committee on Utili ties and Energy by January 1, 
2006 
regarding the study and the recommendations of the commission. 
The commission shall include recommended legislation. 
The report 
must include proposed energy efficiency standards for residential 
rental properties that are occupied year-round. 
The standards 
must require existing residential rental properties that do not 
meet the energy efficiency standards to meet those standards by 
January 1, 
2010 or within 
days of sale, 
whichever occurs 
first. 
The standards must include the following requirements: 
1. 
Compliance with any mandatory standards for residential 
construction pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes and any other 
applicable building code; 
2. 
Insulation to 
cavi ty walls insulated 
building characteristic, 
double-glazed windows; 
a 
minimum of R-38 value in the attic, 
to capacity unless exempt because of a 
insulated heat and hot water pipes and 
3. 
Energy Star ratings on all new appliances if available; 
4. 
A high-efficiency oil burner if oil heat is used; and 
5. 
An 
assessment 
of 
existing 
financing 
mechanisms 
for 
low-income landlords. 
The standards must include a penalty of 1% of market value 
or twice the amount of monthly rent for each year or part thereof 
that a building is out of compliance after the date that the 
energy efficiency standards apply. 
The standards must specify 
the agency responsible for enforcement and must make the penalty 
payable to the General Fund. 
The 
co~~ission shall 
consider 
and 
may 
suggest 
optional 
standards 
for 
basement 
insulation, 
storm 
windows 
with 
low-emissivity glass and wastewater heat recovery. 
SUMMARY 
This 
resolve requires the Public Utilities Commission to 
study energy standards 
for existing and 
new 
construction of 
residential rental properties and report to the Joint Standing 
Committee on Utilities and Energy by January 1, 2006 regarding 
the study and recommendations. 
The report must include proposed 
Page l-LRl712 (1) 
energy efficiency standards 
for 
residential rental properties 
that 
are 
occupied 
year-round. 
The 
standards 
must 
require 
existing residential rental properties that 
do 
not meet 
the 
energy efficiency standards to meet those standards by January 1, 
2010 or within 90 days of sale, whichever occurs first.