What is an Energy-Efficient Mortgage?


As the world becomes more aware of the impact of climate change, there is an increasing emphasis on energy efficiency in homes and buildings. One way to encourage energy-efficient upgrades is through the use of energy-efficient mortgages (EEMs).

An EEM is a type of mortgage that allows borrowers to finance energy-saving upgrades when purchasing or refinancing a home. These upgrades can include things like insulation, efficient heating and cooling systems, windows, and solar panels. By financing these upgrades through an EEM, borrowers can save money on their energy bills and potentially increase the value of their homes.


In recent years, there has been a growing interest in EEM’s, both from borrowers and lenders. The U.S. Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has offered EEMs since the 1990s, and more recently, the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) have also introduced EEM programs.


Overall, energy-efficient mortgages can provide a win-win solution for both homeowners and the environment. Homeowners can save money on energy bills, while also reducing their carbon footprint, and lenders can provide a valuable service to borrowers while also promoting sustainability. Read more about this: What Is An Energy-Efficient Mortgage?



Cheers!

Randy Plumlee

Upcoming Webinars

HVAC Ventilation – An Update on the Importance of the V in HVAC for Homes and Buildings


When: March 30th, 11:00 AM Central (date change!)

Presenter: Tom Murrell, QuFresh


Tom presented for us a couple of years ago, yet a lot has changed regarding ventilation since then. Let’s hear what is new and why it’s important to make the right choice on the type of ventilation and the right equipment to use for your climate zone.

Register Now

Energy Code Inspection Walk-through – Pre-drywall


When: 11:00 AM Thursday, April 13th


The next installment in our energy code inspection walk-through series, following our recent and extremely popular "A day on the job with an Energy Inspector" walk-through. This time we’ll go into the pre-drywall inspection and discuss what to look for and how to properly grade the installation quality.

Register Now

Energy Inspection – Mechanical Ventilation Testing


When: 11:00 AM Thursday, April 20th


Another installment of our energy code inspection walk-through series. We’ll be looking at and breaking down the different ventilation equipment that’s out there and going through the different testing methods being used. With the 2021 IECC testing is now required, but there’s no standard testing method being used. Let’s look at some data about the testing result differences when using different equipment to perform the test. Presenting will be Randy Plumlee, SPEER's Energy Code Manager

Register Now

Where I'm Heading...

My first road trip of 2023. I’ll be touring parts of West Texas and stopping in for an all-day meeting today (!) March 21st with the City of Lubbock as they look forward to adopting the 2021 IECC. On my way out there, I have planned several drop-in meetings in Abilene, Big Springs, Midland, and Odessa where I’ll be providing 2021 Code books for their CBO’s. My last stop is Amarillo where I’ll be presenting on the 23rd and 24th at the Construction School sponsored by Builders FirstSource. The event will be held at the Texas Panhandle Builders Association Building in Amarillo.

Noteworthy

Good Read:

How to Kill the Performance of Your Insulation - Energy Vanguard

This article dives into different methods of adding exterior continuous insulation to an existing home and reviews a study that rates the thermal performance of different product attachment systems.


Previously recorded webinars:

Residential HVAC Load Calculations - YouTube – HVAC Training by RightTek

How to Read IECC Reports - YouTube – Still applicable today


Resources:

ICEE Compliance Code Guide for Homes in Texas

Oklahoma 2015 Energy Code Compliance Guide


WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Energy code users and participants of all types... Building officials, builders, state energy offices, trade associations, energy efficiency organizations, architects, engineers, policymakers, manufacturers, utilities, code administrators, educators, researchers, and more!

Pre-conference Workshops: Tuesday, May 2

Full Conference: Wednesday and Thursday, May 3 & 4

Location: Chicago, Illinois


SPEER is going! Will you join us? Mark your calendars and visit their website as more information such as registration, lodging, and topic postings become available.


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