Like so many homeowners today, the main priority of the couple
building their dream home at 639 N Wright Street was to create a
healthy and efficient environment for their two young children.
Their family’s well-being was the driving force behind the
construction of one of the healthiest homes in the city of
Naperville. Zoned and fully controllable HVAC, partnered with dual
energy recovery ventilators and high levels of indoor air infiltration
created a baseline of indoor performance that coupled well with
the home’s other high performance characteristics. A HERS score of
48 exhibits an incredible level of energy efficiency accomplished by
numerous OVE framing techniques and affordable, yet efficient
methods of air sealing and insulating.

The most astounding and efficient aspect of the project was not
anything installed during construction. It was the existing
abandoned foundation that the home was designed to be built
upon. Using the existing insulated foundation proved to be both
financially and environmentally rewarding. Not only was paying for
the disposal of the foundation able to be avoided but the resources
saved stretched far beyond just concrete. An existing foundation
allowed the disturbed site area during construction to be
significantly reduced, thus limiting the impact on the existing trees
& landscaping. Since so much was able to be saved, an onsite rain
garden was able to be implemented in the front yard that
otherwise would have not been possible.

View detailed Project Profile

A recent analysis of homes done by UCLA Berkley researchers found that a green labeled home (LEED for Homes, NAHB Green, Energy Star, etc) had a measurably higher value than non-green (standard) homes. Adapted from LA Times Article

Researchers from UC Berkeley and UCLA have found that green home labels typically add almost 9% to the value of a California home.

Researchers found third-party certified green homes have a 9% price premium in CA, and closer to 12% in areas with a high “Prius factor” or number of people driving Toyota Priuses. If you’re in Illinois, you are likely wondering how that translates to local real estate values. Especially if you live in an area with a lot of Prius drivers!

Well informally, it’s early but the market seems to be evolving well. Two separate homeowners have told us that their LEED home project financing was appraised up to 20% higher in one case – because of the green features and third-party LEED for Homes certification they were pursuing.

Another home in Elgin rehabbed from foreclosure earned LEED Platinum – and best of all – the final sales price was higher than the listing price.

This summer has also seen a plethora of LEED homes hit the local market as people are leveraging the green MLS fields in the Chicagoland area. Here is a snapshot of local LEED homes currently on the market:

• Bloomingdale, IL – Illinois’ first LEED single-family home, certified LEED Silver in 2009  [view listing]
• Lemont, IL – a home whose construction is being meticulously filmed and will be nationally televised [view listing]
• Hawthorn Woods, IL – a speculative subdivision of custom homes, designed for LEED certification [view listing]
• Chicago, IL – a high-end LEED Platinum gut-rehab that pushes the envelope of sustainability [view listing]
  Open house: SaturdayAugust 4, 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM

And, we know of 2 other subdivisions of green homes that people are starting (not listed yet though).

What’s particularly noteworthy is not just the amount of green building but also the agents starting to use the green MLS fields appropriately! As people learn more about green homes, such as at AES Workshops or free Green Appraisal Seminar on Oct 24, we’ll see more and more green homes listed for sale.

Earn the LEED Green Associate (LEED GA) and/or learn about LEED for Homes in an upcoming workshop!

Wed. July 11 – Madison, WI – HOMES 252: Understanding the LEED for Homes Rating System

Wed. August 8 – Chicago, IL – HOMES 252: Understanding the LEED for Homes Rating System
Sign up for both 8/8 and 10/5 workshops – just $349!

Thu. Sept 27 – Chicago, IL – Understanding the Living Building Challenge

Fri. Oct 5 – Chicago, IL – LEED GA: Core Concepts and Strategies

Tue. Oct 23 – Batavia, IL – LEED GA: Core Concepts and Strategies

Updated July 1, 2012:
Due to some very recent legislation on the Governor’s desk, implementation of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) by the state of Illinois will be moved to January 1, 2013.

Illinois will soon become one of five states in the USA to implement the latest version of internationally-agreed upon energy code standard, the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).  This raises the bar in construction design for residential and commercial structures, and as a result, architects / engineers / contractors building to the new code will be affordably offer a choice to their clients for pursuing several above-code certifications such as Energy Star and LEED without too much additional effort or cost.

The new energy code includes mandatory blower-door testing for building air leakage (less than <5.0 ACH at 50 pascals), which will measure how well contractors have sealed up penetrations between the outdoors and indoor conditioned space. This testing is required for all projects permitted after July 1 in municipalities across the state of Illinois. Other aspects such as requiring hot water pipe insulation and mechanical ventilation are new items that projects will need to implement. Learn more by watching our free archived webinar on the 2012 IL Energy Code

So, how do IECC 2012 requirements relate to voluntary above-code programs like Energy Star, LEED and Passive House?  Pretty well actually. AES has assembled a matrix identifying several energy-related items as written in the code and indicated what the impact or requirements would be in one of these above-code third-party green certification programs. Download as PDF.

 Download as PDF

 What does this mean?  Well just by building to code, Illinois projects will be very close to meeting the Energy Star for Homes program requirements, and will score very well in programs that require Energy Star version 3 such as LEED or Green Communities. Other green programs that don’t require Energy Star, such as National Green Building Standard or Chicago Green Homes program will also heavily reward these projects.

LEED for Homes will be requiring Energy Star version 3 in 2014, so right now a project can still earn LEED certification by building to Energy Star version 2 requirements which should be easily met on any home that meets IECC 2012.  Take advantage of this sweet spot by attending a LEED workshop, or sign up to earn LEED certification today!

The home at 1135 North Grove has earned LEED Platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for achievement in green homebuilding and design. It will be the first residence in Oak Park to receive LEED certification, and this new custom home was built for less than $150 per square foot.

LEED for Homes is a green home certification system for assuring homes are designed and built to be energy- and resource-efficient and healthy for occupants. LEED certified homes complete a technically rigorous process that includes a home energy (HERS) rating and onsite inspections to verify that the home is built to be energy and water efficient, environmentally sound, and a healthier place to live. Read more » »

Brandon Weiss of Weiss BD is the latest builder to show that green remodeling can be affordable and doable.  His recent gut renovation of a foreclosed home in Elgin, IL recently became the world’s first project to earn both LEED Platinum and NAHB Emerald Remodel certifications.

During the Remodel

The home features new windows, thorough insulation, water efficient fixtures, and high attention to indoor air quality in creating an affordable comfortably green home.

After Green Renovation

What was truly remarkable about this project is that it is an affordable gut rehab of a foreclosed home that is now the world’s first NAHB Emerald Remodel and LEED Platinum project.  Even better, it was done on spec and is for sale at a price comparable to other “flipped” foreclosed homes in the market area. Yet it’s performance was dramatically improved and the builder is offering interesting seller incentives such as paying for the first year’s natural gas bills for the home’s buyer.

Learn more about this remarkable project by viewing its LEED project profile.

In partnership with the Better Buildings Better Business (B4) conference for residential building professionals, AES will be offering a full day LEED for Homes Workshop on Tues. January 31, 2012 in Schaumburg, IL.

As shown in the photo, this workshop pulled in 20 developers, designers, builders and architects when held on Nov. 11 in Chicago, and now will be offered again for those that were unable to attend.

HOMES 252: Understanding the LEED for Homes Rating System

Course Description:

In today’s business, LEED is the language of green. LEED for Homes is a green rating system for mixed-use multi-family buildings, up to six stories in height, as well as single-family homes. This course provides an introduction to the LEED for Homes rating system and delivery model. The course addresses the intents and requirements of prerequisites and key credits within the rating system while providing real world examples of strategies to meet them. The course also identifies the roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders and a LEED for Homes project and is designed to prepare the professional to plan for key considerations and requirements for the LEED certification process.

We’ve stripped pricing to the bone to just cover costs and are able to make this available for the special rate of $159.00!

Register Now for just $159!

Learn more about the Better Buildings, Better Business conference!

Early Bird Rate just $299 ends Nov 15!

The residential building and remodeling community in Illinois will have an opportunity to prepare for new energy efficiency standards at the Better Buildings: Better Business Conference®, Jan. 31 – Feb. 2, 2012 in Schaumburg, Ill. As part of the conference, AES will be offering a full-day pre-conference workshop HOMES 252: Understanding LEED for Homes for a special price of just $159!

The conference is being brought to Illinois in response to energy efficiency initiatives that will be affecting the building industry in 2012 and beyond. Under legislation passed in 2007, electric utilities in Illinois must reduce overall electric usage by 2 percent of demand by 2015. These are among the most ambitious energy efficiency standards in the nation.

Similarly, the state’s natural gas utilities are being challenged by law to meet new energy efficiency goals.

In support of these ambitious energy efficiency goals, Illinois utilities are introducing incentive programs that are designed to foster the use of energy efficient products and technologies in residential buildings. Several of the state’s major utilities are co-sponsoring the conference, including Ameren, ComEd, Nicor Gas and People’s Gas / North Shore Gas.

In addition, the State of Illinois will be adopting the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) in June 2012. This code is significantly more stringent than the 2009 IECC, requiring more building insulation, a tighter envelope, mandatory whole-house ventilation, tighter ducts, better windows and more efficient lighting.

“Energy efficiency is an emerging area of focus for the residential building community in Illinois,” said Marge Anderson, associate director of the Energy Center University. “There is a significant need for education on all aspects of high performance homes, including reduced energy use, occupant safety and comfort, money-saving measures and issues of sustainability. There are also significant business opportunities for those who get in early on the energy efficiency movement, because they will be ready to provide their customers with appropriate products, services and technologies.”

The Better Buildings: Better Business Conference will feature more than 70 sessions addressing challenges and solutions for the home building and remodeling industry. Attendees will include builders, remodelers, architects, contractors, consultants, multifamily housing owners and managers, HVAC contractors, weatherization specialists and others in the residential building community.

Session tracks will address various aspects of high performance homes, such as indoor air quality, insulation and air sealing, HVAC, weatherization and more. The conference will also incorporate workshop tracks on building science, architecture and design, and business development. A building clinic will offer live demonstrations and hands-on learning opportunities. The complete conference program is available at www.betterbuildingsil.org.

On Friday, Nov. 11 the Alliance for Environmental Sustainability is partnering with USGBC Illinois to bring a LEED for Homes workshop to the Chicago area. This is in response to the increasing demand for LEED projects and desire for building professionals to be more educated.

This full-day workshop is also something approved for LEED specific continuing education hours, which would be of interest to any LEED AP’s looking to maintain their credential. It’s also helpful for anyone intending to take the LEED AP + Homes exam. Here are the program details.

Register Now for the Workshop

LEED 252: Understanding LEED for Homes

Course Description:

In today’s business, LEED is the language of green. Make your next project a LEED for Homes project. Learn the intents and requirements of prerequisites and key credits within the LEED for Homes rating system.  Identify the roles and responsibilities of key stake holders, learn the value of green homes, and prepare for key considerations in the LEED^® for Homes certification process.

Course Objectives

* Identify the types of projects which are eligible
* Recognize the roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders in the LEED certification process.
* Recognize goals, intents, and requirements of prerequisites and key credits, and strategies to meet them
* Identify synergies between LEED credits
* Plan for key considerations and requirements for the LEED certification process

Continuing Education: 7 AIA/CES/CoreNet / GBCI credits

When: Friday,  Nov. 11  from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Where: Merchandise Mart Conference Center, 350 West Mart Center (2nd Floor), Chicago, IL 60654

Tuition: Just $199 early bird price; $230 after 11/2/11

Register Now for the Workshop

The Appraisal Institute, the nation’s largest professional association of real estate appraisers, has made it easier to identify attributes of green homes. Last week, they released a form intended to help analyze values of energy-efficient home features. It is the first of its kind intended for appraisers’ use, and can identify LEED homes.

The new form is intended to be used as an optional addendum to Fannie Mae Form 1004, the appraisal industry’s most widely used form for mortgage lending purposes. Used by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Housing Administration, Form 1004 is completed by appraisers to uphold safe and sound lending. Currently, the contributory value of a home’s green features is rarely part of the equation.

“This addendum is another example of how the Appraisal Institute is at the forefront of real estate valuation,” said Appraisal Institute President Joseph C. Magdziarz, MAI, SRA. “It will help the industry standardize the way residential energy-efficient features are analyzed and reported.”

The Appraisal Institute’s addendum allows appraisers to identify and describe a home’s green features, from solar panels to energy-saving appliances. Form 1004 devotes limited attention to energy efficient features, so green data usually doesn’t appear in the appraisal report, or it is included in a lengthy narrative that often is ignored.

Magdziarz pointed out that the Appraisal Institute’s form also will make it easier for appraisers to determine whether recent home sales should be used as comparable sales. Sales that are truly comparable are key components in determining a property’s value.

While the addendum won’t guarantee that an appraiser will raise a property’s value by tens of thousands of dollars for energy-efficient upgrades, it should guarantee at a minimum that energy improvements will be taken into account based on value adjustments consistent with local market conditions. More importantly, appraisers using the new addendum should be better equipped to identify accurate, area-specific comparable sales.

One of the interesting aspects of the form is the emphasis given to describing how renewable energy systems such as solar photovoltaic. The form has an area where data collected by the appraiser could easily be used to calculate the net present value (NPV) of the energy savings from a solar energy system.

It’s worth noting that this is an optional addendum to a traditional 1004 appraisal form. Hopefully the lending community will embrace this and builders, architects, lenders, appraisers, and other real estate professionals all find value in encouraging the use of this form for green homes.

Download the Appraisal Institute’s two-page green addendum at http://www.appraisalinstitute.org/education/downloads/AI_82003_ReslGreenEnergyEffAddendum.pdf.

Learn more about the form and how it will be used at a webinar on Nov. 17.