MEEA assists with Home Energy Certification programs

The following post was written by MEEA Program Manager Will Baker

Currently, The Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA) is assisting the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Energy (MDNR-DE) in facilitating a stakeholder process to develop a state-specific voluntary home energy certification program. Previously, MEEA completed similar tasks for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) as a Statewide Coordinator for the Illinois Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® program.

These statewide certification programs will help homeowners capture the value of their home energy efficiency investments by providing potential buyers with the information necessary to make informed purchasing decisions. From one study, similar green labeling resulted in a 9% premium on home purchase price.[1] A great way for State Energy Offices (SEOs) to promote the real estate industry’s buy-in of energy efficiency, while supporting existing residential programs, is to recognize homeowners that make quality energy efficiency upgrades to their home.

Since 2009, MEEA has partnered with DCEO to engage relevant stakeholders and launch a statewide Illinois Home Performance with ENERGY STAR (HPwES) program that includes home energy certification. Today, homeowners in Northern Illinois can attach their Illinois Home Performance Silver and Gold Certificates of Completion to the green fields of the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS).

In Missouri, meanwhile, MEEA is assisting MDNR-DE in engaging residential programs, investor owned utilities, electric cooperatives, trainers, colleges, home performance contractors, energy auditors, nonprofit organizations, and more, in a stakeholder process to design a certification program that supports existing energy efficiency efforts and meets Missouri’s specific needs. In both instances, MEEA has worked with the US Department of Energy (DOE) to ensure alignment between the state certification programs and DOE’s efforts, and to share and learn national best practices.  While Missouri’s home energy certification program will likely look different than Illinois’, both will promote the adoption of energy efficiency through statewide consistency, third party verification, and involvement of the real estate industry in ways that make sense for their respective state.

If you are interested in learning more about MEEA’s efforts to assist the development of statewide home energy certification programs please contact Will Baker at wbaker@mwalliance.org or (312) 673-2489.

Citation: [1]Kok, Nils and M Kahn. “The Value of Green Labels in the California Housing Market: An Economic Analysis of the Impact of Green Labeling on the Sales Price of a Home.” July 2012.  http://www.corporate-engagement.com/files/publication/KK_Green_Home...