The Energy Performance Score Lets
Home Buyers Compare Home Energy Consumption
PORTLAND, OR, March 5, 2010 --/WORLD-WIRE/--
The last time you bought a car, especially in the
current economy, you probably paid close attention to the
fuel efficiency by looking at the mile-per-gallon ratings
and comparing similar vehicles. Now home buyers in certain
states may soon be able to do the same with homes, and it
looks like the trend will go national.
Earth Advantage Institute, a leading nonprofit green
building resource that has certified more than 11,000 homes,
has played a key role in the conceptualization, promotion,
and adoption of the Energy Performance Score (EPS),
currently the only residential energy labeling system that
enables buyers to directly compare home energy consumption.
The tool provides homeowners with both an energy consumption
score and an associated carbon emission score. The number is
based on in-home measurements and diagnostics data, as well
as your utility’s energy source, which are entered into
online software for calculation.
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A technician from Earth Advantage
Institute completes a duct test as part of the
Energy Performance Score audit for a new home.
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The EPS has proven popular enough in the Northwest that it
has been rolled out on a voluntary basis for new homes in
Oregon and in a large 5,000-home pilot for existing
residences in Seattle. Both Oregon and Washington state
legislatures have created task forces to explore the
potential of mandatory energy labeling at time of listing.
Lawmakers see energy labeling as a key tool in motivating
homeowners to make energy efficiency improvements. Homeowner
surveys indicate the public is heavily in favor of having a
rating system that can help them obtain information on
energy performance, where to make improvements, and how to
add to the value of their home.
“We use EPS information as a marketing tool to help sell our
homes,” said Aaron Fairchild, president of G2B Ventures, a
Seattle-based real estate investment firm. “The EPS is an
amazingly innovative tool that will help us transform the
Seattle real estate market.”
Now the federal government has turned its eyes toward energy
labeling. The Department of Energy has targeted the month of
October as the deadline for developing a voluntary national
rating standard that may serve as a tool for banks and other
institutions to provide preferred finance products for
energy efficient, healthy homes.
“We pointed to energy labeling as one of the top 10 green
building trends for 2010,” said Sean Penrith, executive
director, Earth Advantage Institute. “The federal government
has taken up the flag, and has asked for additional data on
the EPS program to inform its efforts in creating a
voluntary standard this year.”
Last month the Energy Performance Score won first place in
the energy category at Change.org’s “Ideas for Change in
America” and has now moved on to the final round of internet
voting. If the idea is voted into the top ten, the
Oregon-conceived EPS will be presented to key White House
administration officials. You can vote for the EPS at
www.change.org/ideas
by scrolling down to the energy category and clicking on “A
Miles-Per-Gallon Rating for Your Home.”
About Earth Advantage Institute and EPS
Earth Advantage Institute works with the building and design
industry to help implement sustainable building practices.
Its nonprofit mission is to create an immediate, practical
and cost-effective path to sustainability and carbon
reduction in the built environment. The organization
achieves its objectives through a range of innovative
certification, education and technical services programs.
More information is available at
www.earthadvantage.org, and more EPS information can be
found at
www.earthadvantage.org/eps.php.
For more information contact:
Tom Breunig
Earth Advantage Institute
(503) 968-7160 x36
tbreunig@earthadvantage.org
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