Q. Is it true that if H.R. 2454, known as the "Cap and Trade" bill, is passed you won't be able to sell your home unless you retrofit it to comply with the energy and water efficiency standards of this act?

A. No, it is not true. In June, the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act, widely known as the "Cap and Trade" bill. The controversial legislation is a new environmental policy that sets mandatory caps on polluting emissions while providing industries flexibility in how they comply. Fears have spread through the Internet and certain "talking heads" in the media that the act will also require expensive home energy audits.

A cursory examination of the 1,428-page bill, in its current form, finds it does not call for mandating an energy audit on existing homes. However, according to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Section 204 of the legislation does call for building an energy performance labeling program for new home and commercial properties.

On July 7, The Times published a story about a Streator man's concerns about the same question. James Taylor's concerns are not unfounded. Some U.S. cities, such as Austin, Texas and Berkeley, Calif., now require energy audits before any real estate sales.

At the time, Taylor said he was worried about what may be inserted in the bill before the Senate votes on it. Again, as of now, there is no such audit mandate in the act.