Profitable niche
Selling Green
Environmentally sensitive homes aren’t just for tree huggers any more.

(cont.)

Energy Rating Systems

Energy Rated Homes of America. ERHA is a national home energy rating system with member programs in 16 states. Its ratings are recognized by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, and VA. It has partnerships with Chase Manhattan Mortgage, GMAC Mortgage, and other national primary lenders to offer preferred financing for homes that are certified by ERHA to be energy efficient. www.erha.org

Home Energy Rating System. As part of the 1992 Energy Policy Act, Congress mandated the U.S. Department of Energy, HUD, and the mortgage industry to develop a nationally recognized system for measuring the energy performance of new and existing dwellings. The result was HERS. This system is based on the Model Energy Code and is one of the most widely used methods of rating energy efficiency in homes. www.hers.org

National Energy Raters Association. Members are professional home energy raters and consultants. www.energyraters.org

Residential Energy Services Network. A partnership between the national mortgage industry, Energy Rated Homes of America, and the National Association of State Energy Officials. RESNET’s mission is to improve the energy efficiency of the nation’s housing stock by expanding the availability of mortgage financing options and home energy ratings. It is a national network of mortgage companies, real estate brokerages, builders, appraisers, and utilities. www.natresnet.org

Energy and Environmental Building Association. A national membership organization that includes architects, builders, developers, manufacturers, engineers, utilities, code officials, researchers, educators, and environmentalists. www.eeba.org.

U.S. Green Building Council. Representing all segments of the building industry, USGBC is working to change the way buildings are designed, constructed, and maintained. It has developed a voluntary green building rating system called LEED ™ (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). This system evaluates not just energy efficiency, but also site development practices, water management, materials selection, indoor air quality and other issues. The LEED rating was designed for commercial buildings and was recently expanded to the residential sector. Some states and government agencies have mandated that all new taxpayer-funded buildings meet LEED standards. www.usgbc.org


Additional Resources
Green Housing, Paul Sedan, May 2001
http://www.realtor.org/rmomag.nsf/pages/frontlines2may01?OpenDocument

How Green is Your Home, Robert Freedman, May 2001.
http://www.realtor.org/rmomag.nsf/pages/green?OpenDocument

Selling Energy Savings, Patricia W. Glenn, June 2002.
http://www.realtor.org/rmomag.nsf/pages/toolkitjune02?OpenDocument

Next Page: NAR's New Green D.C. Headquarters