By Peter Troast – June 17th, 2010
One of the big challenges for gaining broader acceptance for the idea of low energy use homes is how to get the real estate market to value energy efficiency. Sadly, granite counter tops, tiled bathrooms and hardwood floors continue to be the amenities most real estate people claim to be drivers of value. These conventional notions are increasingly no better than urban myths, in my opinion, but the unfortunate truth is they're deeply seeded in real estate culture. The value of energy efficiency is not, at least yet. But while some in the real estate world continue to drill their heads ever deeper in the sand, concrete financial evidence is beginning to emerge that change is afoot.
In Maine this week, a reasonably progressive new set of building codes took effect that call for simple measures to make for better building enclosures–better standards for air sealing and insulation. The largest paper in the state led with a story entitled “Inefficient builders about to hit a wall,” which, predictably, contained the usual gnashing of teeth from construction folks worried about increased costs.
