A conversation about why energy efficiency, building performance, and resilience still don’t show up in home valuations — and what that means for builders and the future of housing.
In the latest episode of The Valuation Metric, Green Builder Media CEO Sara Gutterman sits down with Steve Byers, co-founder and CEO of EnergyLogic, to explore a persistent problem in housing: The market still struggles to recognize the value of high-performance homes.
EnergyLogic has worked with builders across the country to measure and verify building performance — from HERS ratings to energy modeling and third-party verification. The data clearly shows that better homes deliver lower operating costs, greater comfort, and stronger long-term durability.
Yet much of that value disappears when a home enters the traditional valuation system.
Appraisals still rely heavily on comparable sales and price per square foot, leaving critical performance attributes — energy efficiency, indoor air quality, resilience, and durability — largely invisible in the transaction.
For builders investing in better construction, that creates a frustrating paradox: they may spend more to deliver higher-quality homes, but the market doesn’t always recognize those improvements.
Byers’ perspective is shaped by a career that began in the U.S. Air Force before moving into building science and performance verification. His work now focuses on helping the industry translate building performance into measurable data that lenders, appraisers, and buyers can understand.
This conversation explores how we measure value in housing — and why the industry may need new metrics to capture the real benefits of high-performance homes.
Cati O’Keefe is the editorial director of Green Builder Media. She has 25 years of experience reporting and writing on all aspects of residential housing, building and energy codes, green building, and sustainability.
Why High-Performance Homes Are Still Undervalued
A conversation about why energy efficiency, building performance, and resilience still don’t show up in home valuations — and what that means for builders and the future of housing.
In the latest episode of The Valuation Metric, Green Builder Media CEO Sara Gutterman sits down with Steve Byers, co-founder and CEO of EnergyLogic, to explore a persistent problem in housing: The market still struggles to recognize the value of high-performance homes.
Yet much of that value disappears when a home enters the traditional valuation system.
Appraisals still rely heavily on comparable sales and price per square foot, leaving critical performance attributes — energy efficiency, indoor air quality, resilience, and durability — largely invisible in the transaction.
For builders investing in better construction, that creates a frustrating paradox: they may spend more to deliver higher-quality homes, but the market doesn’t always recognize those improvements.
Byers’ perspective is shaped by a career that began in the U.S. Air Force before moving into building science and performance verification. His work now focuses on helping the industry translate building performance into measurable data that lenders, appraisers, and buyers can understand.
This conversation explores how we measure value in housing — and why the industry may need new metrics to capture the real benefits of high-performance homes.
Watch the full interview here.
By Cati O'Keefe
Cati O’Keefe is the editorial director of Green Builder Media. She has 25 years of experience reporting and writing on all aspects of residential housing, building and energy codes, green building, and sustainability.