Not all newly built homes are created equal. Energy Trust offers resources that make it easier to find or build a home that delivers year-round comfort, low monthly energy costs and healthy indoor air quality.
Buy a Newly Constructed Home
Open the door to comfort, quality and savings with EPSTM, a scoring tool that helps you compare the energy performance of newly built homes before you buy. Put energy efficiency on your must-have list and experience the benefits first-hand in model homes and on home tours.
Say Hello to EPSBuild an Energy-Efficient Home
Work with a builder who raises the bar for home energy performance. Our network of trade ally builders makes energy efficiency a key component of every home.
Builders can earn cash incentives for building high-performance homes in Oregon and Washington.
Interested in solar? Ask your builder about installing solar or making your home solar ready to reduce the time and cost of a future solar system installation.
Purchase a New Manufactured Home
Look for manufactured homes that are ENERGY STAR® certified to ensure top quality and value. Certified homes include built-in features that improve comfort and keep energy costs low.
Live Better in a Net Zero Home
Feel confident in a new home that eliminates your questions about monthly electricity costs. Net zero homes have solar already installed, so you can enjoy the comfort and savings that come with clean, renewable energy from the sun.
What makes a home net zero?
Qualified homes produce as much electricity as they consume over the course of a year. By meeting Energy Trust of Oregon’s EPS™ requirements, they are built to be at least 20% more energy efficient than a typical newly built home.
Along with a solar electric system, net zero homes feature minimized air leakage, high levels of insulation, efficient heating and cooling, and other benefits, including:
- Comfort, quality and energy savings built in
- Future focused with solar already installed
- Low energy bills and a positive environmental impact
- Peace of mind with third-party verification
For more information on net zero homes and to find qualified builders in your area, please call 1.877.283.0698 or email us.
Live Energy Smart
Take charge of your energy use and your environmental impact by living in an energy smart home. These homes have features and systems already in place so you can live comfortably, save energy and easily incorporate solar and other innovative technologies.
Each energy smart home starts with a base package of:
- EPS™ home built at least 10% more efficient than a typical newly built home
- Home that is built for solar installation or already has solar installed
- Home that is built to install an electric vehicle (EV) or already has an EV Charger installed
- A home with electric water heating will have an electric water heater pre-enabled for demand response programs
- Smart thermostat installed for central electric space conditioning equipment
Homes may include energy storage and advanced wiring and some may even qualify as net zero, if an installed solar system offsets 100% of your electricity use.
All energy smart homes earn an EPS for their high-quality construction and energy-saving performance. They also seamlessly integrate into the smart grid, giving you greater control when managing your energy use and costs. Building an energy smart home that integrates into the smart grid preps homeowners for future utility rate increases, including time of use.
Find an energy smart home
For more information on energy smart homes, and to find qualified builders in your area, please call 1.877.283.0698 or email us.