Latest News in Green Appraising

If you haven’t heard yet there are new tools to help boost appraiser’s competency related to appraising buildings with green features. Besides the numerous resources and trainings now offered by the Appraisal Institute (http://www.appraisalinstitute.org/education/green/default.aspx), the Residential Green and Energy Efficient Addendum gives lenders, underwriters, appraisers, buyers, and/or agents a tool to accurately describe a property’s “green” features.

These features can be anything related to green building, sustainable building, renewable energy or energy efficiency. The advantage of this new addendum is the ability to capture a wide variety of these often overlooked features in one place. The addendum can be filled out by the builder, the energy rater, the homeowner, or the appraiser. Ideally, the person who is most familiar with the project’s “green” features needs to supply the necessary information for the addendum. When completed, the Residential Green and Energy Efficient Addendum can be attached to the Uniform Residential Appraisal Report. 

Click here to download the Residential Green and Energy Efficient Addendum. To learn more about how to use the information included on the Residential Green and Energy Efficient Addendum as a tool to appraise “green” homes, stay tuned to our next blog. 

HVAC Contractors - Getting Started with ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR v3 for the HVAC Contracto

The NCEEA has created a document to help the HVAC contractor become qualified to work on ENERGY STAR jobs and become a leading energy efficient contractor.

Click here or on the document to download the pdf.

HVAC contractors who are ready to learn and apply advanced techniques recommended by ENERGY STAR can have the opportunity to sell more services, improve customer satisfaction, and make homes they work on significantly more energy-efficient and comfortable.

Advanced Energy is the second organization to become a HVAC Quality Installation Oversight Organization (H-QUITO) and supports NC and surrounding states. They will guide you through the process, provide technical assistance, and oversight so you can begin working on ENERGY STAR jobs!

Sales of Certified Energy Efficient Homes Outperform Traditional Construction in Triangle

Statistics for 2012 home sales in the Triangle region in NC show that certified green homes sold for higher prices and spent less time on the market than traditional homes. Sales of certified homes have shown consistent growth each year, increasing at a rate more than twice that of uncertified homes. This data shows a strong appeal for certified homes even in a difficult market period.

Certification adds additional costs for the builder and owner, but is proof to the buyer that the home meets stringent specifications and will result in a healthy, durable home with monthly energy savings. This information should help real estate professionals understand the impact that certified energy efficient homes are having in the residential housing market and give builders a great reason to build certified homes.

Realty Analytics performed the data analyses using MLS and county records, see the original report here.

New Energy Efficiency Video Resources on our Website

The NCEEA has some exciting new videos in our Resource tab.They include:

• A consumer targeted video on what homeowners should look for when buying a new home.
• An 8 step video series that demonstrates the pre-construction best practices that allow builders, raters, and trade contractors to successfully participate in an ENERGY STAR version 3 new home build.
• Highlights from the Real Estate CE Training in Asheville.
• 2012 NC Energy Code video created by the Department of Technology and Environmental Design at Appalachian State University that summarizes important changes to the new Energy Code.

All of the videos can be found here. Please feel free to share these videos and 

help spread the word on energy efficient homes!

EPA RECOGNIZES the North Carolina Energy Efficiency Alliance WITH 2012 ENERGY STAR AWARD for EXCELLENCE IN ENERGY STAR® PROMOTION

North Carolina Energy Efficiency Alliance earns award for protecting the environment through energy efficiency   [Partner name] earns award for protecting the environment through energy efficiency 

Boone, NC; March 1, 2012 – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has named the North Carolina Energy Efficiency Alliance as a winner of a 2012 ENERGY STAR Award for Excellence in ENERGY STAR Promotion for its outstanding contributions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by sponsoring significant consumer education efforts promoting energy-efficient homes. The accomplishments of the North Carolina Energy Efficiency Alliance will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 15, 2012, which marks the 20^th anniversary of ENERGY STAR.

The North Carolina Energy Efficiency Alliance, an ENERGY STAR partner since 2010, is being honored for their work in promoting construction techniques, products, and third-party verified homes that meet ENERGY STAR guidelines for energy efficiency.

The North Carolina Energy Efficiency Alliance (NCEEA) has excelled in stakeholder education, bridging communication gaps between lenders, appraisers, real estate brokers, home builders, HVAC contractors, and home energy raters. Their educational efforts have been highlighted by energy efficiency seminars offering continuing education credits to diverse groups of industry professionals in North Carolina, as well as the development and delivery of individual workshops and technical consultation for Alliance members upon request. In addition, the NCEEA has implemented a strategic direct-to-consumer education and outreach campaign that has reached millions of consumers across North Carolina and the surrounding region. Never before has an organization taken such a comprehensive approach to support the infrastructure of the home building industry in an effort to expand energy efficiency across the state. 

“The North Carolina Energy Efficiency Alliance’s partnership with ENERGY STAR is an important way for us to serve both consumers and industry professionals, showing them how energy-efficient ENERGY STAR Homes offer a high level of comfort, durability, and money savings, in addition to protecting the environment,” said Chuck Perry, Program Manager for the NCEEA. “We are committed to continuing this important partnership to promote energy efficient construction, both in North Carolina and across the country.”

Over the past 20 years, American families and businesses have saved nearly $230 billion on utility bills and prevented greenhouse gas emissions equal to those from more than 350 million vehicles with help from ENERGY STAR.

The 2012 Excellence in ENERGY STAR Promotion Award is given to a variety of organizations in recognition of their efforts to improve energy efficiency and reduce pollution, resulting in significant cost savings. Award winners are selected from about 20,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program.

“As we celebrate the 20^th anniversary of the ENERGY STAR program, EPA is proud to recognize The North Carolina Energy Efficiency Alliance with the 2012 ENERGY STAR Award for Excellence in ENERGY STAR Promotion,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “The NCEEA and all our ENERGY STAR award winners truly demonstrate how the leadership and commitment from EPA’s partners has made a difference in the lives of Americans since 1992, saving them billions of dollars in energy costs and improving the health of our families, the planet and our future.”

 

About The North Carolina Energy Efficiency Alliance About [Partner]

The North Carolina Energy Efficiency Alliance is a grant funded organization chartered in August of 2010 with ARRA funding administered through the NC Energy Office. The Alliance is a partnership between Appalachian State University, The NC Solar Center, Advanced Energy, and Southern Energy Management. The ongoing mission of the Alliance is to expand energy efficiency in the construction industry by way of consumer education and industry collaboration across the region. To help support this continued effort, to become an NCEEA member, or to learn more about the Alliance visit www.ncenergystar.org or reach them by phone at 828-262-8331.  

About ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy efficiency. Now celebrating its 20^th anniversary, ENERGY STAR offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy, money and help protect the environment for future generations. About 20,000 organizations are ENERGY STAR partners committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes, buildings and businesses. For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit www.energystar.gov or call toll-free 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937).