Certified Green Homes Have Price Premium

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In 2007, the Portland Regional Multiple Listing Service (“RMLS”) began tracking sales of homes with a green certification such as Energy Star, LEED for Homes, or Earth Advantage New Homes. The Earth Advantage Institute, an Oregon-based non-profit doing work in the green building sector, annually reviews this information in order to glean home valuation trends.

Specifically, Earth Advantage found that existing homes with a green certification sold for 30% more than homes without such a certification. Earth Advantage also found that new homes with a green certification sold for 8% more than new homes without a certification. The research is based on sales between May 1, 2010 and April 30, 2011.

In addition, Earth Advantage found that of 2,237 new homes sold in the last year in the Portland RMLS area, 408 of those homes were certified to some green standard.  Thus, the Portland area is seeing about 18-20% market share of certified new homes and these homes all have a sizable price premium.

Read the report summary by Earth Advantage Institute.

How does that impact Green homes located in the Midwest? Well first it provides support for general market trends. Furthermore, when you have appraisers calling for collaboration on green home values, and an increasing number of real estate boards adding Green MLS features, local research on cost of ownership, and lenders starting to offer green financing, it paints a pretty rosy picture for continued growth in the green homes market.

Can LEED Save Ohio?

Sustainable Renaissance in OH

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The Great Recession has hammered Ohio. The unemployment rate topped 9 percent in its three largest regions of Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus. And the 2010 Census revealed that the cities of Cincinnati and Cleveland lost 10.4% and 17.1% of their population over the course of the decade. But in three recently released reports funded by Living Cities, CNT found that Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Columbus possess the transportation infrastructure and urban form to spark new and sustainable investment and LEED buildings as the economy recovers. Read more

Senate Legislation Calls for Zero-Net-Energy Buildings by 2030

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A Bi-Partisan Congressional Effort Lands the 2030 Challenge Targets Back on the Senate Floor The Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2011 was introduced yesterday by Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH). The bill places meeting the 2030 Challenge target of zero-net-energy for new buildings by 2030 as the first item in a comprehensive strategy for U.S. energy reductions in the building and industrial sectors. Specifically, Sec. 101 of the legislation, Greater Energy Efficiency in Building Codes, directs the Secretary of Energy to “establish targets for specific years” with each target “higher than the preceding target” on a “path to achieving zero-net-energy” by the year 2030. The baselines for incremental updates of the codes are the 2009 IECC for residential buildings and ASHRAE Standard 90.1–2010 for commercial buildings. The first code update, the 2012 IECC, which will be released in about a month, meets the initial 50% reduction target of the 2030 Challenge. The 2030 Challenge has been included in numerous other federal, state, and local pieces of legislation. This most recent bill offers another opportunity for the U.S. to realize the energy reduction targets of the 2030 Challenge.

Released on behalf of Architecture 2030

USGBC and Passive House Alignment

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The US Green Building Council (USGBC) and Passive House Institute US (PHIUS) have released the following letter of alignment:

USGBC’s LEED for Homes rating system and Passive House standard are complimentary green building systems. Both programs share the goal of making the US building stock more efficient, comfortable and sustainable places to live. While the Passive House standard focuses primarily on greatly reducing the heating and cooling loads of the home, LEED for Homes also promotes efficient material use, site selection and development, and rewards projects that improve their water efficiency and indoor air quality.

A Passive House is a very well‐insulated, virtually air‐tight building that is primarily heated by passive solar gain and by internal gains from people, electrical equipment, etc. Energy losses are minimized. Any remaining heat demand is provided by an extremely small source. Avoidance of heat gain through shading and window orientation also helps to limit any cooling load, which is similarly minimized. An energy recovery ventilator provides a constant, balanced fresh air supply. The result is an impressive system that not only saves up to 90% of space heating costs, but also provides terrific indoor air quality.

LEED for Homes is a national, voluntary certification system, developed by national experts and experienced builders, that promotes the design and construction of high‐performance green homes and encourages the adoption of sustainable practices by the homebuilding industry.

LEED certification is based on 18 prerequisites and 67 credits across 8 credit categories. Beyond energy and indoor air quality, LEED for Homes also takes into consideration material selection, water use, site selection/landscaping, location to local amenities/mass transit and homeowner education.

USGBC works regularly with Passive House Institute US (PHIUS) representatives to further green home building nationwide. USGBC and PHIUS agree that building and certifying a Passive House is a seamless compliance path for LEED for Homes Energy and Atmosphere section, and that homes are beginning to achieve dual certifications. In fact, USGBC is exploring the incorporation of the Passive House Standard into future iterations of the LEED for Homes program.

New Student Board Intern

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All welcome Stephanie Krajnik

Stephanie is a junior at Aquinas College, studying Sustainable Business and Biology.  She plans to earn a degree in public health and use her knowledge of sustainability and biology to prevent chronic health issues through a restructuring business, consumer education, and governmental policy changes.
She is excited to be working at the Alliance for Environmental Sustainability this summer. One of  her projects will be to look at the effectiveness of post-occupancy LEED certified residential homes in comparison to the estimated energy use.
In her free time, she likes to travel and be outside. Last summer she canoed the first 500 miles of the Mississippi River and most of the Grand River. she also likes to read, play piano, and run.
In the 2011/2012 year she has been elected as the Students Striving for Sustainability President.

LEED reaches its 10,000th Certified Home

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More than 10,000 homes across the U.S. have earned LEED certification through the LEED for Homes program, according to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED-certified home projects span the residential market, from multi- and single-family, to market rate and affordable housing.

“Reaching this milestone signifies the continued transformation of the home building industry towards high-performing, healthy homes that save home owners money,” said Nate Kredich, Vice President of Residential Market Development, U.S. Green Building Council. “Market leaders across the production, multifamily, affordable and custom home segments have recognized that there are green homes, and then there are LEED Homes, and they are acting accordingly.”

LEED for Homes is a national voluntary certification system that promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes that use less energy and water and fewer natural resources; create less waste; and are healthier and more comfortable for the occupants. Since its launch in 2008, 10,161 homes have certified with over 38,000 additional units in the pipeline.

The 10,000th home to earn LEED certification was Tacoma Housing Authority’s 91-unit development, Salishan 7 in Washington. Salishan 7, built by Walsh Construction Company, is the first federally funded HOPE VI Redevelopment project to achieve LEED Platinum. The project was built within an affordable budget, and was designed to be at least 30% more energy efficient than the average home, effectively removing 27 homes from Tacoma Power’s electrical grid.

“We are proud to be a part of the community of over 10,000 homes that have committed to excellence through the LEED for Homes program,” said Michael Mirra, Executive Director, Tacoma Housing Authority. “Our LEED Platinum housing projects are less expensive to operate and are healthier inside, which means a world of difference to our residents.”

Nationally recognized market leaders such as McGuyer Homebuilders, Inc (production homes) in Dallas, Tex., Fore Property (multifamily) and dozens of Habitat for Humanity affiliates (affordable) are just a few of the organizations committing to LEED certification across the country.

Supporting the growth of the LEED for Homes program is the robust and dedicated network of LEED for Homes Providers; a community of nearly 400 LEED AP Homes credential holders, helping meet the need for knowledgeable green home building professionals; and a growing number of LEED for Homes Green Raters. Additionally, the USGBC recently launched its LEED for Homes Scoring Tool for builders to self-evaluate their home construction projects to see how close they are to LEED certification. This simple web-based application makes the program even more accessible to builders and homeowners.

Work with to help make your next LEED project a success.

LEED Professional Credentials Gain ANSI Accreditation

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LEED Green Associate, LEED AP O&M and LEED AP Homes, among other GBCI-administered credentials achieve recognition from the American National Standards Institute.

“This accreditation from ANSI validates the integrity of our processes under a global standard. That provides a mark of differentiation for our credential holders, and the respect of the market that employs them” said Beth Holst, Vice President for Credentialing at GBCI.

Read the full article here.

What this will do in the marketplace is assure employers that their AP staff are uniquely qualified and trained individuals who are setting the bar for green building by meeting the rigorous demands set by this organization. This will add demand for these credentials amongst employers and add value to those employees looking for a competitive edge in a growing green market.

Especially in a residential green market with an alphabet soup of credentials available under every rating system, having ANSI recognize LEED AP Homes as the “most qualified, educated and influential green building professionals in the marketplace” will not only increase the demand for these LEED AP individuals, but will subsequently increase the demand for their LEED certified homes.

To find other green professionals in your area visit the Green Home Guide, or to learn more about how to become a LEED AP Homes visit our Tools page.

News videos of LEED Gut Rehab

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A recent project in Chicago has garnered national media attention.  Here are links to a few of the highlights:
FOX – Chicago

 

NBC – Chicago

Are you an area professional wanting to earn LEED project experience?

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Habitat is pleased to announce its partnership with HabitatPro, a program designed for professionals who are interested in accumulating the now required LEED project experience in order to sit for the LEED AP exams. HabitatPro PX facilitates a rare opportunity to learn LEED by actually doing LEED! Participants will gain “personal involvement”  with the LEED project by having the opportunity to be a part of all apsects of the Habitat LEED project including design, construction, documentation and educational development. Participants can expect to receive:

  • a personalized letter of attestation from BOULD
  • personal hands-on involvement on a LEED registered project
  • weekly participation opportunities
  • tracked roles and hours via BOULD’s comprehensive database
  • partnership with Habitat for Humanity in revitalizing your community

The upcoming project Design Charrette is Monday, March 14. For tuition, participation and registration, please visit GoHabitatPro.com.
(Note, if you can’t make this meeting there are still many opportunities)

LEED for Homes - Online Scoring Tool - www.leedforhomes.org

LEED Home Scoring Tool Released

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USGBC has created an online tool that will allow anyone to “kick the tires” on taking a single- or multi-family building through LEED for Homes certification. The Online Scoring Tool (OST) is available at no cost through www.leedforhomes.org and provides a great way to evaluate the LEED rating system.

The user-friendly Online Scoring Tool (OST) allows free access to anyone that creates a web site account. Once logged in, people can score multiple rojects using the online scoring tool.

Two Scoring Paths
Projects can choose to take one of two paths with the LEED Homes scoring tool. One path called the Quick Score, allows a builder to answer a green home version of 20 questions about a sample project. Its perfect for a builder that has had a HERS Rating performed on a previous home and is wondering how that home would have scored in LEED. Once the questions are answered, the scoring tool gives an estimate on the potential LEED certification level.

A more advanced path allows the user to go through the LEED for Homes rating system in detail for a specific project, with credit-by-credit analysis. Each credit can be selected as Yes, No, or Maybe.  Best of all, the online tool does an impressive job of digesting the extensive LEED for Homes Reference Guide into salient tool-tip help that can be brought up in a popup window. This explanation will help people decide whether or not they want to pursue a specific LEED credit or not.

The LEED for Homes Online Scoring Tool (OST) is available at no cost through www.leedforhomes.org