Home Upgrade Resources

ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR

Find steps you can take to incrase your home's efficiency and track your impact. 

Project Guides
Product Guide
U.S. Department of Energy

U.S. Department of Energy

Home energy saving tips

Energy Saver Guide
Enervee

Enervee

Search major retailers to compare energy ratings for appliances

Product Search Tool
EPA Water Sense

EPA Water Sense

Find WaterSense certified products, learn about water saving programs, and see how much you can save.

WaterSense
Environmental Working Group

Environmental Working Group

User-friendly guides on health home products

Healthy Home Guides
USDOE Home Energy Score

USDOE Home Energy Score

Information on Home Energy Score (HES) programs and resources for leveraging HES in real estate transactions

Overview
Financing and Incentives
Energy Trust of Oregon

Energy Trust of Oregon

Information on resources and cash incentives for energy efficiency upgrades

DIY Resources and Cash Incentives
Fact Sheets and Rsources
Find a Contractor

 
Mi Casa

Mi Casa

Bilingual website from Energy Trust of Oregon that provides a one-stop shop for Spanish speaking customers. 

Mi Casa Website
 

Renewable Energy Resources

Google Project Sunroof

Google Project Sunroof

Google's Project Sunroof allows homeowners to search by home address to discover solar PV potential, personalize your analysis, and compare finance options.

Project Sunroof
Let's Go Solar

Let's Go Solar

Step-by-step resources to help you see if solar energy is a smart choice for you.

Let's Go Solar
Energy Trust of Oregon

Energy Trust of Oregon

Information on Energy Trust Incentives, Oregon rebates, and federal tax credits for solar power generation and storage. 

Energy Trust Flyer
Free Bid and Analysis
Solar Oregon

Solar Oregon

Solar Oregon provides information, leads tours, delivers workshops, and helps homeowners and communities accelerate the development of solar energy in Oregon and Southwest Washington.

Solar Oregon
Value of Solar PV

Value of Solar PV

USDOE Study (2015) showing that home buyers pay an average of $4 more per watt of PV installed for solar powered homes. This equates to a premium of about $15,000 for a typical PV system. 

Read the Study

Video Resources

Realtor Sales & Marketing

Realtor Sales & Marketing

Tips on using energy efficiency and high performance construction as selling points for your listings.

Selling Energy Efficient Homes
Selling Healthy Homes
Realtor Videos

Realtor Videos

Resources for complying with Portland's mandatory Home Energy Score program. 

Autopopulating HES on RMLS
Typical HES Upgrade Scenarios
Homebuyer/Home Seller Videos

Homebuyer/Home Seller Videos

Resources to help home buyers and sellers uderstand Portland's Home Energy Score Program.

Browse Videos

Marketing & Sales Resources

Top 3 Tips for Selling Earth Advantage Certified Homes

Top 3 Tips for Selling Earth Advantage Certified Homes

Understand the key features and benefits of Earth Advantage Certified homes

See Tips
Leveraging EPS as a Sales Tool

Leveraging EPS as a Sales Tool

Learn how to market homes that have received Energy Trust EPS certification.

Download Flyer
Sample Score Sheet
USDOE Sales Tools

USDOE Sales Tools

A glossary of sales themes and messaging that can be used to market energy efficient homes. 

View Tools
Zero Energy Project

Zero Energy Project

Zero Energy Project offers articles and resources specific to zero energy homes to keep brokers ahead of the curve

See Resources

Financing and Appraisal Resources

Fannie Mae Home Style Energy Mortgage

Fannie Mae Home Style Energy Mortgage

Finance up to 15% of "as completed" home value for energy improvements.

Learn More
FHA Loans

FHA Loans

FHA borrowers can borrow more when they buy an energy efficient home. Lenders can provide a 2% stretcy on homebuyer debt-to-income ratios on purchase or refinance loans for homes that earn or demonstrate they will improve to a Home Energy Score of 6 or higher.

Learn More
Energy Trust of Oregon

Energy Trust of Oregon

Energy Trust of Oregon's Savings Within Reach On-Bill Repayment provides increased incentives and on-bill financing for income-qualified homeowners.

Learn More
Community Energy Project

Community Energy Project

Community Energy Project's network of financial lenders provides a wide variety of loan options - including zero-money down financing and on-bill financing - to help homeowners improve the performance, comfort, efficiency, health and safety of their homes within their budgets.

Learn More
Green Home Valuation Study

Green Home Valuation Study

"The Market Value of Energy Efficient and Green Certified Northwest Homes" (October 2015). Produced with support from Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance. 

Downolad Full Report
Download Appraiser Reference Sheet
 
Steps to Support Green/Energy Efficient Home Appraisals

Steps to Support Green/Energy Efficient Home Appraisals

Green features, labels, and certifications increase the marketability of a home, but do not automatically translate into increased appraised value. Use this guide to help increase the probability of a fair and accurate appraisal of your high performance home. 

Download Guide
Appraisal Insitute: Appraisal Addendum

Appraisal Insitute: Appraisal Addendum

Residential green and energy efficient appraisal report addendum made by appraisers, for appraisers.

Download Addendum