MAKE ENERGY EFFICIENCY A PRIORITY WHEN SHOPPING FOR A NEW HOME
A staggering 21% of the all energy used in the United States is used in homes. Buying an energy-efficient home is a great way to make a long-term commitment to conserving Colorado’s energy and reducing your expenses.
To learn more about choosing an energy-efficient home, consult the FAQ below.
Buying an Energy-Efficient Home FAQ
- What should I look for if I want to buy a “green” home?
- What is a HERS Index?
- What do I need to know about LEED-certified homes?
- What do I need to know about ENERGY STAR® qualified homes?
- What can I learn from an energy audit?
- What are the advantages of using a “green” realtor?
1. What should I look for if I want to buy a “green” home?
There are many things to consider when deciding whether a particular home is the best (and greenest) choice for you. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Make sure heating and cooling systems are in good working order and are appropriately sized for the house. Look for ENERGY STAR® ratings and check for appropriate filtration.
- Check windows and doors. Are they ENERGY STAR® rated? Can you feel any drafts? Do the windows have multiple panes?
- Inspect insulation. Is it nontoxic? Does it meet applicable R-value standards?
- Watch for signs of mold or other indicators of poor ventilation. Make sure there are plenty of ways for fresh air to enter the house.
- Consider the orientation of the home. How much will natural daylight be able to replace artificial lighting? Will the home be well shaded in the summer? Is it set up to take advantage of breezes?
- Look at the building materials and furnishings. Are they healthy, nontoxic, renewable, recycled and/or salvaged?
- Inspect appliances, lighting and water-heating systems. Are they ENERGY STAR® rated?
- Evaluate renewable energy systems, if applicable.
- Evaluate water efficiency indoors and out.
To be green, a home should be a good fit for your specific circumstances. If its location will add mileage to commutes to work, school or other regular destinations—or if it has more space than your family needs—it won’t be truly energy efficient.
If you’re considering working with a realtor, you may want to ask these questions:
- Do you have any ENERGY STAR® or LEED-certified homes listed in my price range?
- What resources do you use to find green homes?
- Do you have a green designation such as EcoBroker or National Association of Realtor’s green designation?
- What state and local tax incentives might be available to me?
- What energy-efficient features are recommended for homes in my region?
If you’re considering a specific house, you may want to ask your realtor these questions:
- Does the home have any other beneficial features such as low-VOC carpets and paint, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) flooring, CFL lighting or tankless water heaters?
- Can I review one or more utility bills from the previous owner to get a sense of energy usage and costs?
- Has the homeowner had an energy audit done and what were the results?
- Have energy efficiency upgrades been made to the home?
- Has the homeowner participated in the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® Program?
For more information:
Find listings of green, energy efficient, sustainable homes and real estate developments for sale.
Visit the U.S. Green Building Council—a 501(c)(3), non-profit community of leaders working to make green buildings available to everyone within a generation.
Check out the Green Home Guide.
Learn from the Residential Energy Services Network.
The HERS Index is a scoring system established by the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET). A home built to the specifications of the HERS Reference Home (based on the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code) scores a HERS Index of 100, while a net zero energy home scores a HERS Index of 0. The lower a home’s HERS Index, the more energy efficient it is in comparison to the HERS Reference Home. Each 1-point decrease in the HERS Index corresponds to a 1% reduction in energy consumption compared to the HERS Reference Home. Thus a home with a HERS Index of 85 is 15% more energy efficient than the HERS Reference Home.
3. What do I need to know about LEED-certified homes?
LEED is a nationally recognized, third-party certification system that’s based on measurable results. LEED-certified homes are energy efficient, use nontoxic building materials, are water smart and respect the environment in which they’re constructed.
LEED was created and is administered by the U.S. Green Building Council, a nonprofit environmental organization with more than 14,000 member organizations dedicated to sustainability in building design and construction. The certification system has been in use for more than seven years in commercial construction.
LEED-certified green homes include a homeowner’s manual and a LEED “scorecard” that reflects third-party verified information about your home’s energy performance, water savings, materials used in construction and other features.
LEED-certified homes offer economic benefits such as lower energy and water bills; environmental benefits like reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and health benefits such as reduced exposure to mold, mildew and other indoor toxins. LEED-certified homes may also be eligible for financial benefits such as lower fees for financing and lower insurance rates.
The LEED for Homes Certification System is tailored for the construction of market rate and affordable new single-family or low-rise multi-family homes (like condos and garden apartments). Existing homes undergoing extensive renovations may also be eligible to participate in the program.
LEED certification for homes is fairly new (LEED-H just released final guidelines for their residential green building certification in January), but more and more properties are achieving LEED certification every day. A broad array of homes, spanning different budget levels, is now available. Certified homes include everything from luxury residences to Habitat for Humanity projects.
If you’re interested in purchasing a LEED-certified home, tell your realtor or builder.
For more information:
Find a homebuilder participating in the LEED for Homes program in your area.
Access local LEED for Homes providers.
4. What do I need to know about ENERGY STAR® qualified homes?
To earn the government-backed ENERGY STAR® rating, a home must meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These homes are typically 20–30% more efficient than standard homes.
There are already nearly a million ENERGY STAR® homes in the U.S. Compared with standard homes, ENERGY STAR® qualified homes use substantially less energy for heating, cooling and water heating, delivering $200 to $400 in annual savings. Additional savings on maintenance can also be substantial.
ENERGY STAR® qualified homes feature:
Effective Insulation
Properly installed and inspected insulation in floors, walls and attics ensures even temperatures throughout the house, reduced energy use and increased comfort.
High-Performance Windows
Energy-efficient windows employ advanced technologies, such as protective coatings and improved frames, to help keep heat in during winter and out during summer. These windows also block damaging ultraviolet sunlight that can discolor carpets and furnishings.
Tight Construction and Ducts
Sealing holes and cracks in the home’s “envelope” and in heating and cooling duct systems helps reduce drafts, moisture, dust, pollen and noise. A tightly sealed home improves comfort and indoor air quality while reducing utility and maintenance.
Efficient Heating and Cooling Equipment
In addition to using less energy to operate, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems can be quieter, reduce indoor humidity and improve the overall comfort of the home. When properly installed into a tightly sealed home, this equipment won’t have to work so hard to heat and cool the home.
Efficient Products
ENERGY STAR® qualified homes may also be equipped with ENERGY STAR® qualified products—lighting fixtures, compact fluorescent bulbs, ventilation fans and appliances, such as refrigerators, dishwashers and washing machines.
Third-Party Verification
With the help of independent Home Energy Raters, ENERGY STAR® builder partners choose the most appropriate energy-saving features for their homes. Additionally, raters conduct onsite testing and inspections to verify the energy efficiency measures, as well as insulation, air tightness and duct sealing details.
For more information:
Find ENERGY STAR® builder partners and available incentives in your area.
Explore these topics from ENERGY STAR®:
ENERGY STAR® Qualified Products
Independent Inspection and Testing
5. What can I learn from an energy audit?
More than 40% of the energy consumed in a home is used for heating and cooling; water heating and lighting uses around 20%, and appliances including refrigeration use more than 15%. These are key areas where energy savings can be achieved.
A professional energy audit will deliver detailed, precise information about current efficiency—and opportunities for improvement. Auditors use infrared cameras and special fans to pressurize a house and determine how leaky it is; this will help you determine what efficiency upgrades your potential home may need. Some home inspectors are able to do both energy audits and inspections.
Here are some questions for your energy auditor:
- Will you be able to tell me the HERS rating of the home?
- Will you be conducting a blower door test? (If your potential auditor doesn’t plan on conducting this essential test, you may want to interview others.)
- Will you be using an infrared camera? And if so, is the temperature difference between inside and outside adequate to make infrared images useful in this season?
- Will you conduct CO testing? (This is central to the overall safety of your house and is worth including.)
- Will you test ventilation?
- May I see a sample report? (You’ll want to be sure it’s intelligible, contains a concrete inventory of measures, prioritization of those improvements based on cost effectiveness and clear instructions for those things you can take on yourself.)
To learn more about professional and do-it-yourself energy audits, visit the Energy Audit page.
6. What are the advantages of using a “green” realtor?
“Green” realtors have training in issues specific to selling and listing green homes, so they may be able to give you specialized support as you search for and purchase a green home.
Currently there are two designations available to real estate agents nationwide, EcoBroker and the NAR’s (National Association of Realtors) Green Designation. Both designations require agents to take courses providing them with specialized training in energy-efficient design and appliances, green materials, green ratings like LEED certification and ENERGY STAR®, and tax incentives, as well as a comprehensive understanding of going green and the concerns of environmentally conscious homebuyers.
For more information:
Search for agents with a green designation.
