The energy-efficient home market in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic continues to grow at a steady pace. The market penetration of high-performance homes in the United States reached $36 Billion in 2013 and is projected to hit $72 Billion by 2016 (Source, McGraw Hill Construction). Consumers are seeking green and energy efficient features, and builders are striving to meet the demand. A recent survey by the National Association of Home Builders showed that “nine out of ten buyers would rather purchase a home with energy-efficient features and permanently lower utility bills than one without those features that cost two-to-three percent less.”

With an increasing number of high-performance buildings on the market, real estate professionals are in the unique position of having to assess a building’s energy-efficient features in order to list the property. NEEP recently published our latest in a suite of resources targeted at real estate professionals, buyers/renters, and appraisers. A resource called the “Checklist of Home Energy Efficient Attributes for Real Estate Professionals.” The checklist is meant to enable a real estate professional to make a fairly quick assessment of a home’s efficiency. The checklist is organized by seven categories: Lighting; Appliances; HVAC; Water Usage; Building Envelope; Fenestration; and Third Party Evaluation/Home Energy Audit. You can access the checklist here or by hitting the power button to the right.

An assessment of the home’s energy efficiency is winning proposition for both the buyer and the real estate professional. The buyer benefits in lower energy cost, increased comfort, and higher resale value. Real estate professionals will have increased customer satisfaction, higher referral rate, higher commissions and the ability to demonstrate a deeper understanding of homes systems, features, and quality. As third party labeling of a home’s efficiency becomes more widely recognized and in some cases required, both home buyers and real estate professionals will be challenged to keep on top of the varied programs and labels. NEEP’s suite of resources targeted at real estate professionals, home buyers/renters, and home builders will continue to be refined to assist all parties in meeting the challenge and transacting successful energy-efficient real estate. We will continue to post information, resources, and checklists at: NEEP Resources.