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More Green Resources

Click on a category below to view useful website links and resources pertaining to green buildings.

Please help us keep this list useful and current by submitting informative “green” links to: greenresources@appraisalinstitute.org 

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REPORT SUPPLEMENTS FOR RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL APPRAISERS

  • Recognition of Energy Costs and Energy Performance in Real Property Valuation: Considerations and Resources for Appraisers, 2nd edition (a guide for the green narrative report)

Institute for Market Transformation and Appraisal Institute

http://imt.org/files/Energy_Reporting_in_Appraisal.pdf

  • PV Value™ Photovoltaic Energy Valuation Model helps determine the value of a new or existing photovoltaic system installed on residential and commercial properties

Developed by Sandia National Laboratories, a multiprogram laboratory managed and operated by Sandia Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corp., for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration, and Solar Power Electric™

https://www.pvvalue.com/

  • Valuation Advisory 9: Valuation of Green and High-Performance Property: Commercial, Multi-Family, and Institutional Properties

The Appraisal Foundation

https://appraisalfoundation.sharefile.com/share/view/s8716d51864a41a8b

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NATIONAL, STATE, & MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT SITES AND PROGRAMS

  • Nationwide: State and Local Energy Efficiency Programs

         U.S. Small Business Administration

         https://www.sba.gov/content/state-and-local-energy-efficiency-programs

  • California: One-stop site for information about energy resources in California

California Energy Commission

http://www.energy.ca.gov/

  • California: Information on solar programs, rebates, tax credits, installation, and interconnecting

California Solar Initiative

https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/General.aspx?id=6043

  • Green Building Resource Center information for economical, sustainable building solutions

         Houston Department of Public Works and Engineering

         https://www.codegreenhouston.org/

  • Advanced Buildings program transfers advances in building science and energy conversion systems into commercial practice by New York’s residential construction industry.

New York State Energy Research & Development Authority

http://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Programs/Advanced-Buildings

  • Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Program

PACE Financing

http://pacenation.us

  • Information about ENERGY STAR® homes and the HERS Index

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=new_homes.hm_index

  • Better Buildings is an initiative of the U.S. Department of Energy designed to improve the lives of the American people by driving leadership in energy innovation. Through Better Buildings, DOE partners with leaders in the public and private sectors to make the nation's homes, commercial buildings, and industrial plants more energy efficient by accelerating investment and sharing successful best practices.

U.S. Department of Energy

https://betterbuildingssolutioncenter.energy.gov/

Homeowner's Guide to Going Solar

Solar Energy Technologies Office, U.S. Department of Energy

https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/homeowner-s-guide-going-solar

  • Energy Efficient Mortgages

An overview of different mortgages available to homebuyers looking to purchase an energy-efficient home.

ENERGY STAR

https://www.energystar.gov/newhomes/mortgage_lending_programs/energy_efficient_mortgages

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LEGISLATION

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ASSOCIATIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS

  • Resources on water conservation, efficiency, and demand management for conservation professionals and the larger water supply community.

American Waterworks Association: Waterwiser®

http://www.awwa.org/resources-tools/water-knowledge/water-conservation.aspx

  • In-depth technical and policy analyses and recommendations regarding green building and other sustainable practices

American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy

http://www.aceee.org

  • Energy-efficient and green resources, including a number of Chicagoland resources

Elevate Energy

http://www.elevatenp.org

  • Education and resources for green construction

Appraisal Institute

Green Educational Offerings

Green Research Guide

  • Examples and goals of green leases

BetterBricks, the commercial building initiative of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance

http://www.betterbricks.com

http://www.neea.org

  • Education for home energy auditors

Building Performance Institute (BPI)

http://www.bpi.org

  • Independent organization to promote responsible management of the world’s forests—administers the FSC certification program

Forest Stewardship Council

http://www.fsc.org

  • Sustainable Building Assessment & Certification: Information on the Green Building Initiative (GBI), which provides sustainability assessment and certification services through the Green Globes® program

The Green Building Initiative

https://www.thegbi.org/green-globes-certification

  • Covers a variety of issues that affect energy-efficient/green construction of residential and commercial buildings

National Association of Home Builders

https://www.nahb.org/advocacy/industry-issues/sustainability-and-green-building

  • Independent nonprofit research and educational foundation to foster efficient and sustainable use of resources

Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI)

http://www.rmi.org

  • National standards and information about becoming a HERS rater or energy auditor

Residential Energy Services Network

https://www.resnet.us/raters/

  • Information on the LEED® certification program, research on sustainable building practices, publications, and more.

U.S. Green Building Council

http://www.usgbc.org

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DATABASES

  • A central online resource for rebate information

Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Energy Efficiency (DSIREUSA)

http://www.dsireusa.org/

  • RESNET National Registry of all certified RESNET HERS Raters and homes that have been rated and issued a HERS Index Score since 2012. AI members can register for a members-only portal with even more information. Get registered by emailing info@resnet.us. Login at https://portal.resnet.us/

    Residential Energy Services Network

http://www1.resnet.us/registry/

  • High Performance Federal Buildings Database

U.S. Department of Energy

https://www.energy.gov/eere/femp/sustainable-federal-buildings

  • Database: List of Solar Energy Companies

Best Company

https://bestcompany.com/solar?sort_state=-

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DESIGN

  • Design-oriented site for sustainable homes, natural material, and green technology

Jetson Green

http://www.jetsongreen.com

  • News website for sustainability professionals

BuildingGreen

http://buildinggreen.com

  • List of TED talks on sustainable design

Ted.com

https://www.ted.com/playlists/28/sustainability_by_design

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INSULATED CONCRETE FORMS

  • Information including PowerPoints, videos, and articles on energy-efficient wall systems

All Wall Co.

http://www.allwallsystem.com/AllWallInformation

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STRUCTURAL INSULATED PANELS

  • Technical information on home building and panels

NAHB Research Center

http://www.homeinnovation.com/

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SOLAR ENERGY

  • Paper: “Selling Into the Sun: Price Premium Analysis of a Multi-State Dataset of Solar Homes”

Electricity Markets & Policy Group, Energy Analysis & Environmental Impacts Department, Environmental Energy Technologies Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

https://emp.lbl.gov/publications/selling-sun-price-premium-analysis    

  • Paper: “Tracking the Sun" report series

Electricity Markets & Policy Group, Energy Analysis & Environmental Impacts Department, Environmental Energy Technologies Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

https://emp.lbl.gov/tracking-the-sun    

  • Paper: “An Analysis of the Effects of Residential Photovoltaic Energy Systems on Home Sales Prices in California”

Energy Technologies Area, E.O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

https://emp.lbl.gov/publications/analysis-effects-residential

  • Paper: “Exploring California PV Home Premiums”

Energy Technologies Area, E.O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

http://eetd.lbl.gov/publications/exploring-california-pv-home-premiums

  • Paper: “Market-Based Investigation of Residential Solar Installation Values in Oregon”

Energy Trust of Oregon

https://energytrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/2011_solar_market_evaluation_study.pdf

  • Site classifies (premium, standard, economy) many major manufacturers of solar modules

EnergySage Inc.

http://www.energysage.com/solar/buyers-guide/selecting-solar-panels

  • Section B2-3-04 of the Fannie Mae Selling Guide,“Special Property Eligibility Considerations,” now has guidance on eligibility for properties with solar PV that are either owned or leased by the homeowner

Fannie Mae

https://www.fanniemae.com/content/guide/sel121614.pdf

  • Paper: “The PV Durability Initiative” scores five solar manufacturers from accelerated life testing and long-term field exposure data.

Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems

https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/6744445?reload=true%27    

  • Annual U.S. Solar Market Trends Report outlines different market forces shaping the adoption of PV across the U.S. PV pricing is included in these reports, and archived reports back to 2008 can be downloaded.

Interstate Renewable Energy Council

http://www.irecusa.org/annual-u-s-solar-market-trends-report/  

  • Report: “Solar Ready Buildings Planning Guide”

National Renewable Energy Laboratory, operated for the Department of Energy by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy LLC

http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy10osti/46078.pdf

  • Examples of permanent documentation to make a utility worker or emergency response personnel aware there is a photovoltaic system on the property

PNM

https://www.pnm.com/one-line-diagram-storage-examples  

  • Number of homes rated and average HERS index score in 2014 by state

RESNET Residential Energy Services Network 

Link to doc on AI website

  • Provides U.S. solar data, including slides and fact sheets

Solar Energy Industries Association

http://www.seia.org/research-resources/solar-industry-data

  • Report Shows U.S. Solar Industry Tops 1 GW of Installed Capacity for Third Straight Quarter. The summary is free, more specific information by state and market is available forpurchase.

Solar Energy Industries Association

http://www.seia.org/research-resources/us-solar-market-insight

  • Report: “How PV System Ownership Can Impact the Market Value of Residential Homes”

Sandia National Laboratories

https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1322287

  • Report: “Standardizing Appraisals for PV Installations”

Sandia National Laboratories

https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/6745191

  • Presentation: “Photovoltaic System Valuation Model—PV Value”

         Sandia National Laboratories

https://www.osti.gov/scitech/servlets/purl/1143896

  • Paper: “Solar Photovoltaic Specification, Checklist and Guide”

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

https://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/residential/pdfs/rerh_pv_guide.pdf

  • Global Solar Installed Capacity Per Capita

Infographic from expertsure.com shows solar capacity around the world. 

https://www.expertsure.com/uk/home/global-solar-installed-capacity-per-capita/

  • Fact Sheet: Reducing Up-Front Costs for Rural Energy Efficiency Projects

American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy

https://aceee.org/fact-sheet/rural-upfront-costs

  • Article: New Solar Permit Software to Reduce Costs and Expand Residential Markets

Solar Energy Industries Association

https://www.seia.org/news/new-solar-permit-software-reduce-costs-and-expand-residential-markets

  • A Guide to Green Loans and Energy Efficient Tax Credits

Rider University

https://online.rider.edu/online-masters-degrees/masters-accountancy/guide-green-loans-energy-efficient-tax-credits/

  • Solar Resource Guide: A List of Solar Resources for Homeowners

Going Solar

https://goingsolar.com/resources-guide/

  • The below links contain maps of installed solar PV systems across the United States.The level of detail provided in each differs, although an appraiser can use it to get an idea of solar adoption rates and potential comparable properties with PV systems.

Various sources

Arizona Solar Map - https://azsolarcenter.org/resources/resource-maps

Berkeley, CA - http://www.cityofberkeley.info/solarmap/

Cambridge, MA - https://www.mapdwell.com/en/cambridge

Los Angeles, CA - http://solarmap.lacounty.gov/

Madison, WI - http://solarmap.cityofmadison.com/madisun/

New Jersey - http://www.njcleanenergy.com/files/file/CS%20Marketing/Solar5000.pdf

New Orleans, LA - https://www.solarenergymaps.com/New-Orleans.html

New York, NY - http://nycsolarmap.com/

Portland, OR - http://www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/article/446449

Riverside, CA - http://cityofriverside.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=f99aa787d3b84842b34113846b09ed5e

San Francisco, CA - http://app.dumpark.com/sunlight/sf/

Seattle Puget Sound Area - http://solarizewa.org/our-progress

Tallahassee, FL - https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?hl=en&mid=10P61EslbUnPRVZVcrT8o9aif2V0&ll=30.505807515851338%2C-84.21735050000001&z=11

Vermont - http://adomatisappraisalservice.com/VermontEnergyCode.pdf

Vermont Energy Atlas - http://www.vtenergydashboard.org/energy-atlas 

Washington County, OR - https://www.mapdwell.com/en/energytrust

Washington DC - https://www.mapdwell.com/en/dc

Wellfleet, MA - https://www.mapdwell.com/en/wellfleet

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SOLAR PV INSTALLATION DATABASES

  • Database of solar PV installations utilizing Enphase microinverter technology. Some sites in this interface show production over the lifetime of the PV system, multiple tilt and azimuth configurations, array layout, module manufacturer, and the company that installed the PV system and /or provides the monitoring service.

Enphase Energy Inc.

https://enlighten.enphaseenergy.com/public_systems

  • Spreadsheet on installed PV systems through the Commonwealth Solar incentive program. Information includes building type, city, ownership, system size, installation costs, and rebate approved.

Massachusetts Clean Energy Center

http://www.masscec.com/commonwealth-solar-installers-costs-etc

  • NYSERDA displays PV incentive program data, including location (by city), PV system size, costs (gross and incentive), module and inverter manufacturer, incentive amounts, and whether the PV systems are customer or third-party owned.Chart, table and map views can be generated in the web browser with this data.

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)

https://data.ny.gov/Energy-Environment/Solar-Photovoltaic-PV-Incentive-Program-Beginning-/3x8r-34rs   

  • Free service for sharing and comparing PV output data. Solar PV system owners give PVOutput permission to gather data from their own PV monitoring system to allow for comparing production data in a regional setting or across different components.

PVOutput.org

http://pvoutput.org/

  • Details PV system name and address, PV system’s size, site photo, date commissioned (operational), inverter specifications, energy production and specific yield, and performance ratio

SMA Solar Technology AG

https://www.sunnyportal.com/Templates/PublicPagesPlantList.aspx

  • The Major Solar Projects List is a database of all ground-mounted solar projects, 1 MW and above, that are either operating, under construction, or under development. 

Solar Energy Industries Association

http://www.seia.org/map/majorprojectsmap.php

  • Solar PV installations are detailed if the system uses a Solectria inverter and the site name or installer name is known. 

Solectria Renewables

http://www.solrenview.com/   

  • California Solar Initiative (CSI) and California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) data on installed PV systems.

State of California, California Energy Commission & California Public Utilities Commission

http://www.californiadgstats.ca.gov/

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REPORTS AND ARTICLES

  • Report: “NCEEA’s ENERGY STAR Market Impact Study”

Appalachian State University, North Carolina Energy Efficiency Alliance

http://ncenergystar.org/resources/publications

  • Report: “CPUC Energy Efficiency Primer”

California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)

http://cpuc.ca.gov/energyefficiency/

  • Report: “Valuing the Financial Benefits of Energy Efficiency in the Multifamily Sector”

Elevate Energy

http://www.elevateenergy.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/Valuing-Financial-Benefits-of-Energy-Efficiency-in-Multifamily-Sector.pdf   

  • Report: “Exploring California PV Home Premiums”

Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

https://emp.lbl.gov/publications/exploring-california-pv-home-premiums

  • Academically reviewed papers on sustainable real estate, as well as links, case studies, and sustainability resources

The Journal of Sustainable Real Estate, University of San Diego’s Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate

http://www.josre.org

Video: "Solar Valuation for Home Appraisers"

GW Solar Institute

http://homeenergypros.org/video/solar-valuation-for-home-appraisers?xg_source=activity

  • Guides and Case Studies for Marine Climates

U.S. Department of Energy

https://www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/guides-and-case-studies-marine-climates

  • Article: How to Finance Your Business’s Energy-Saving Output

Efficiency Vermont

https://www.efficiencyvermont.com/tips-tools/guides/how-to-finance-your-business-s-energy-saving-project?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=April%202017%20Business%20Solutions&utm_content=April%202017%20Business%20Solutions+CID_496a9105d84ad963ae7564276e511230&utm_source=Campaign%20Monitor&utm_term=Read%20our%20Financing%20Guide

  • Article: Green Mortgages: Financing to Make Your Home Energy-Efficient. Overview of loans specifically meant for energy-efficient home buying. 

MoneyGeek

https://www.moneygeek.com/mortgage/resources/green-mortgages

  • A guide to green mortgage eligibility requirements, loan types, and more

FHA Loans

https://www.fhaloans.com/articles/green-mortgage/

  • Article: The Homeowner's Guide to Solar Financing

Let's Go Solar

https://www.letsgosolar.com/solar-panels/financing

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TOOLS

Appraisal Institute

  • A map of LEED commissioned buildings in the United States (commercial) as well as LEED buildings per state, and functionality to virtually explore LEED projects

Arcgis.com

https://www.arcgis.com/apps/MapJournal/index.html?appid=a835df78ffe64a92be638610132b9b9

  • Sample worksheet to calculate heating/cooling costs

Online Remodeling Calculator

https://www.remodelingcalculator.org/hvac-load-calculator/

  • Green Energy Compass online tool for benchmarking, analysis, and reporting of energy for homes and small buildings

Performance Systems Development

https://psdraters.buildingperformance.com/Account/LogOn?returnUrl=%2F

  • How to Calculate and Present Deep Retrofit Value for Owner Occupants

         Rocky Mountain Institute

https://rmi.org/insights/calculate-present-deep-retrofit-value-owners-managers/

  • Free roof azimuth tool assists in pinpointing a property’s azimuth

Solmetric Inc.

http://tools.solmetric.com/Tools/roofazimuthtool

  • Free web-based residential energy calculator and web service that provides customized estimates of residential energy use, energy bills, and CO2 emissions.; Identifies potential energy-saving strategies and ranks in order of cost-effectiveness.

U.S. Department of Energy

http://www.hespro.lbl.gov

  • Find a “Walk Score” for a property to determine ease of living a lifestyle that is less reliant on cars

Walk Score

http://www.walkscore.com/how-it-works.shtml

  • Life Cycle Costing Calculator performing economic analysis for all costs related to building, operating, and maintaining an energy conservation measure (ECM) project over a defined period of time. 

Harvard University

http://energyandfacilities.harvard.edu/green-building-resource/green-building-tools-resources/life-cycle-costing

  • Statistic: Projection of national spending on green construction in the United States from 2005 to 2018 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Statista

https://www.statista.com/statistics/521743/us-national-green-construction-spending-outlook/

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