Jun 05 2008
Earth Advantage Certification: A Third-Party Thumbs-Up on Energy-Efficient & Environmentally Responsible New Homes
Working directly with homebuyers, I am often asked about green building features. People want to know not only what to look for in a home but also how to know that there really are energy savings built into the home.
Earth Advantage® certification is a great way for a buyer to know that a builder is committed to providing energy savings for the homeowner and as well as using green building practices. Woodhill Homes currently offers Earth Advantage certified homes as part of their Responsible Home Collection in Woodhill Park, Bend 10 and now, Reed Pointe.
To obtain certification, a new home’s features are performance tested to save energy and increase comfort. The homes are third party inspected & certified by Earth Advantage staff to be at least 15% more energy-efficient than standard building practices. This benefits the homebuyer personally as well as allows the builder and buyer to be socially responsible.
The specific areas that bring energy savings are insulation, windows, high efficiency furnaces and Energy Star appliances such as dishwashers, refrigerators and washing machines.In addition, an Earth Advantage certified home will include compact fluorescent light fixtures, energy efficient windows, fresh air ventilation systems and attention to sustainable building practices. It does the cost the builder more to provide these features but the value of the home increases accordingly. In the end, the homeowner will reap the benefits of both lower energy and water bills as well as increased comfort. As energy prices continue to climb, more buyers are asking for these features and understanding the impact both on a personal level as well as a global level.
Estimated utilities savings can add up to hundreds of dollars annually. In fact, Earth Advantage® has teamed up with Fannie Mae, the nation’s largest source of home mortgage funds, to help more people own greener homes in Oregon. One program uses the savings you realize from buying an Earth Advantage home to help you qualify for the loan. Oregon Housing & Community Services offers a program as well. There are lots of reasons to buy green. Green-built financing options are just another incentive for a buyer to consider an Earth Advantage home for themselves and for the community at large.
By Pat Huber, Partner / Broker
Taft Dire LLC
Read more on Earth Advantage home and financing here.
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