Tell Legislators to Support Renter Access to Energy Costs

Energy efficiency is crucial for Iowa’s clean energy transition. But it is also a pocketbook issue for many in the state. 

The Iowa Environmental Council is supportive of House Study Bill 635, a piece of legislation that would require landlords of apartments with 12 or more units to disclose average utility costs to a prospective tenant before they sign a lease. 

This pro-consumer transparency bill will give renters information about the true and total costs of a particular rental property. Apartments with the lowest rental costs can often have the highest utility costs, including energy costs. Iowa’s low- to middle-income families will benefit most from this disclosure.

Requiring landlords to disclose this information will help create a market for more efficient rental units. With units that have lower utility costs increasing in demand, more landlords will be incentivized to make building upgrades that reduce energy waste and save renters on utility costs. 

HSB 635 will better inform Iowa’s tenants, reduce energy waste and costs, and help spur building upgrades that benefit local economies. 

Take action now and ask members of the HSB 635 subcommittee to support this important bill.