RISMEDIA, July 12, 2011—Earth Advantage Institute, a nonprofit green building resource that has certified more than 11,000 homes, and the Passive House Institute US (PHIUS) announced their intent to work together on development of an Energy Performance Score (EPS) label that can be issued for any home certified to the Passive House building energy standard.
The plan is part of an overall collaborative effort in the residential building sector that will also include education courses for professionals and consumers. The cooperation is expected to boost the adoption rate of Passive House-certified homes.
The EPS is a miles-per-gallon-style rating system for homes that allows buyers to compare estimated annual energy costs and energy consumption among different homes. It also provides an incentive for homeowners to undertake energy upgrades. Currently more than 1900 homes have been rated in the Northwest, and pilot programs are underway in Massachusetts, Virginia and Alabama. The EPS offers an energy efficiency metric for appraisers, lenders, insurers and other sectors providing services for the home industry.
“The massive energy savings offered by Passive House certification have attracted significant attention in the Northwest and in other parts of the country,” says Sean Penrith, executive director, Earth Advantage Institute. “With Earth Advantage Institute’s ability to reach the builder and homeowner communities, this agreement with PHIUS enables both parties to bring a much higher level of residential energy performance into the mainstream.”
For more information, please visit www.earthadvantage.org.
