Definitely, there are some, well a perfect storm of things happening that will increase awareness and movement toward energy efficiencey for everyone...not to bore you, but

People will want to Protect Value

            CALIFORNIA 2020 all new homes will be zero energy homes  - The competition will be 100% ZERO ENERGY

Time of sale coming Requirement for energy audits is coming

Its a marketing tool for realtors

Save Money

 On Current Utilities -

Hedge against rate hikes,

Carbon/Global warming tax, caps, expense

Health

Live in a comfortable house

Respiratory, healthy house

Live in house that works

Environment

            Do the right thing - save the planet

Time of Sale is coming

•·         EU Directive on all Buildings at Time of Sale

•·         Uk enacted

•·         5 states including California considering

•·         Senator Alexander R-TN proposed National TOS legislations

Its happening.

Maybe size of the home will be the bennefit of all the hype or the higher bills. Send them down our way as we have plenty of water. Do not see it going anywhere. The old homes were actually more energy efficient before tyhe a/c. Insullate well. The green issue is not even on the radar screen here.

Nice post Jacqulyn or Charles. I believe as buyer awareness grows it will be clearly a question of an older homes efficiency followed by healthfulness. In Europe there is a law that a house must meet certain efficiency standards before it can be sold.

I hope you get lots of interest in this poll! I played!

Here is something interesting to think about - as more homes become more energy efficient or "green", will the cost of energy go down due to less demand? Is this is a possibility, will the cost vs benefit analysis favor the older homes?

For some reason I don't see utility company's reducing rates as engery consumption goes down. I have been noticing builders in our area going green or at least trying to go green.

this will be a good poll to watch!

I think homes of the not-too-distant future will be much more energy efficient than they are now, and I think consumers will be requesting it as well.  I know we're seeing more and more green building and buildings going on in my area - it's a slow process but the newspapers seem to carry more news about a variety of green things going on now than they ever used to.

Interesting poll!
Ann

In trolling various blogs I've been wondering what would trigger me to comment, and here it is. My wife and I, both Realtors, are about to begin a green remodel of a 70's- built Orange County (CA) tract home in largely original condition. Now a rental, it will be available for sale in a few months as a transformed, eco-friendly, energy and water-saving design exercise, remodeled inside and out. Sustainable and/or recycled materials and no/low VOC content paints and adhesives will be used throughout. Solar photovoltaic panels on the roof will produce most of the energy, while all new wood, dual-pane windows & doors, plus eco-friendly and healthy alternative insulation will conserve it. Both tankless water heating and low-flow plumbing fixtures, along with water-saving landscape design and irrigation will be featured. We plan to showcase the technologies, the products, vendors and the home itself to educate, inform and hopefully, excite visitors to both the home and its various media promotion sites. Once done, we plan to repeat the project and grow the green homes consulting business associated with it. Your comments are welcome!

 Dick & Vivan Hamer

Regency Real Estate Brokers, Mission Viejo, CA

Hi Jacqulyn~ good post. Yes, I think this will be a factor in existing homes. I recommend an energy auditor to inspect and audit the home before it is listed. You will find

1. no problems - great energy efficient rating
2. problems that can be fixed easily so the home can have a favorable rating
3. problems that can be used as a bargaining point with the buyer regarding who will pay for the improvements

It is a win-win for the agent, the seller and the buyer.

Just my .02. Find a rater in your area that is trustworthy and knows their business...and the business of energy efficiency!!! It will improve your business! (and don't forget to tell them MA sent you!)