BUILDING HOMES IN accordance with RESNET standards is all in a day’s work for David Weekley Homes, whose corporate offices are in Houston. The company joined the green building revolution by connecting with Environments for Living (EFL), which uses concepts of building science (in partnership with the company of the same name) to build green homes.

MERITAGE HOMES CORPORATION is a Top Ten national homebuilder based in Scottsdale, Arizona. The company was the first to certify 100 percent of their homes with the Energy Star Program, so it’s not surprising that Meritage also became the first large production company to partner with RESNET to perform energy modeling and certification.

THE RESIDENTIAL ENERGY SERVICE NETWORK, or RESNET, was established in 1995 as a nonprofit organization to help builders construct the most energy-efficient homes possible, with the primary objective of keeping utility bills to a minimum. RESNET trains and certifies professionals, who can then audit homes and rate their energy efficiency by using the HERS Index. The lower the score, the more efficient the home.

The focus on building energy use is probably the highest it’s been in 40 years. From corporations trying to cut operating expenses, to low-income homeowners trying to reduce their monthly utility bills, it’s not just about first-cost any more.

Unfortunately, the lending process hasn’t adjusted to this new, all-encompassing perspective. Sustainable attributes rarely get assigned a value, and even if they do, it is not truly reflective of the overall value. The underwriting equation (PITI) doesn’t even consider utility/energy costs, which can be the 2^nd largest monthly housing expense behind the principal & interest. Because of this flawed process, some view advanced energy codes and green building programs as a disincentive.

Consumers looking for new appliances or cars have the advantage of the EnergyGuide label or miles-per-gallon (MPG) sticker to comparison-shop for models based on energy efficiency. Now homebuyers can do the same with Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index scores. A home’s HERS Index Score tells prospective buyers how energy efficient that home is in comparison to similar ones, enabling them to make better-informed buying decisions.