Insulation Institute Blog

Posts Categorized: Energy Efficiency

Home Energy Efficiency Data Can Sway Buyers

In real estate, the mantra of top sales professionals is “location, location, location.” While location is of course key, a new report from the American Council on an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) provides a proof point that increasingly, home energy efficiency can also drive home buying decisions. ACEEE’s research shows that including home energy efficiency scores online in real estate listings would lead buyers to choose a more energy-efficient home with lower energy costs. Home builders and sellers who don’t leverage this information could be missing a key opportunity to demonstrate their value proposition.

Details »
Home Energy Efficiency Data Can Sway Buyers

Clean Energy Sheds 595K Jobs

A new report released yesterday by E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs), the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), E4TheFuture, and BW Research Partnership shows that nearly 600,000 clean energy workers have lost their jobs since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is nearly 18 percent of the total industry workforce, according to the group’s press release.

Details »
Clean Energy Sheds 595K Jobs

Realtor Sees Uptick in Video Tours

Video home tours are not new in real estate, but the current COVID-19 health crisis is driving an increase in these digital tours, according to Mike Swinney, a Northern Virginia-based realtor. Swinney has more than 12 years’ experience selling homes in one of the hottest housing markets in the nation. Swinney estimates a 50 percent volume increase in digital tours in recent weeks. While the growth may largely be attributed to health concerns, many experts in the housing industry predict the uptick in digital tours will remain when the crisis wanes.

Details »
Realtor Sees Uptick in Video Tours

4 Vital Efficiency Actions to Address Climate Change

Energy efficiency is indisputably essential to addressing global climate change. At the forefront of organizations promoting strategies to tackle the climate crisis is the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). Insulation Institute spoke with David Goldstein, Co-Director of Climate and Energy at NRDC, about how the building sector in America can more aggressively pursue a comprehensive energy efficiency initiative to address climate change. Goldstein is a heavy hitter in the energy efficiency arena, having worked since the 1970s on energy efficiency and energy policy (and also founded Residential Energy Services Network). Goldstein offers the following four-point blueprint for achieving an active decade of progress on climate goals.

Details »
4 Vital Efficiency Actions to Address Climate Change

The Top 10 States for LEED Green Building

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is the most widely used green building rating system in the world, and the number of LEED-certified buildings in the United States continues to grow. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) recently released the top 10 states for LEED Green building in 2019, a year in which the total number of certified projects reached 1,181.

Details »
The Top 10 States for LEED Green Building

Number of HERS-Rated Homes Grows

The number of HERS-related homes in the United States continues to expand, according to new data released by Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET).  In 2019 a total of 241,909 homes in the United States were HERS-rated compared with 236,116 in 2018. That is an increase of 5,793 homes in one year. To date, 2.7 million homes have been HERS-rated.

Details »
Number of HERS-Rated Homes Grows

Home Sellers Must Prove Energy Efficiency

Home Sellers Must Prove Energy Efficiency

As we reported in last week’s blog post, “Five Promising Developments for Decarbonization,” a growing number of state and local governments are targeting building emissions to reduce their carbon footprint. This push for decarbonization will only accelerate. In the move toward decarbonization, targeting buildings – both commercial and residential – is low-hanging fruit. It’s not just new construction, but existing construction as well, with home sellers in one jurisdiction now required to measure their home’s energy efficiency before putting it on the market.

Details »
Home Sellers Must Prove Energy Efficiency

5 Promising Developments for Decarbonization

As a new decade begins, there are promising developments on the horizon for building decarbonization and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions in residential and commercial construction. While federal support for decarbonization to address climate impacts is at a standstill, non-governmental organizations, state and local governments, and industry are all focused on sustainability and building decarbonization actions that may ultimately lead to real progress. Here are five promising developments for decarbonization that have the potential to shape an active decade of progress.

Details »
5 Promising Developments for Decarbonization

Our Top 10 Blog Posts of 2019

Like last year, some of our best-performing blog posts focused on air sealing and proper installation and application of fiberglass and mineral wool insulation, which is no surprise, since we’re the Insulation Institute. However, other topics like energy efficiency design trends and the prioritization of energy efficiency over energy generation ranked highly as well.

Details »
Our Top 10 Blog Posts of 2019