The results are in from the first 310 homes that received energy audits under a new Austin ordinance. The main finding: Most of the houses had leaky air ducts, which means lots of wasted energy.

The ordinance, which went into effect June 1, requires sellers to get energy audits of their homes and disclose the results to buyers.

Austin Energy compiled these results from the first wave of audits:

• 86% Homes with ducts that leaked more than the 10 percent rate considered acceptable for energy efficiency
• 22% Average amount of air leakage
• $260 Annual average dollar loss per home of electricity because of leaky ducts
• 807,840 Total annual kilowatt-hours of electricity wasted by the houses — enough to power 67 average-size homes for a year
• 1 million Pounds of carbon dioxide emitted annually to produce the wasted electricity
• $500 Average cost to seal ducts, after Austin Energy rebates, with a $120 average annual savings
• $661 Average cost to add 6 inches of attic insulation, after rebates, with an average annual savings of $90

Source: Austin American Statesman