What do real estate data firm CoreLogic, large multiple listing services Metropolitan Regional Information Systems and Midwest Real Estate Data, and National Association of Realtors national property database subsidiary Realtors Property Resource have in common?
They’re among a host of real estate firms making up the charter class of the U.S. Department of Energy’s new “Better Buildings Home Energy Information Accelerator.” As members they’ll help expand awareness of homes’ energy performance at appropriate points during residential real estate transactions.
“By improving the efficiency of buildings across the country, Better Buildings partners are saving money by saving energy, creating more sustainable communities, and helping to protect future generations from the impacts of climate change,” said Under Secretary for Science and Energy Franklin Orr in a statement.
The new partners in the accelerator include:
- Appraisal Institute
- Clean Energy Works
- Colorado Energy Office
- CoreLogic
- Council of Multiple Listing Services
- District of Columbia Sustainable Energy Utility
- Earth Advantage
- Elevate Energy
- Green Button Alliance
- Home Innovation Research Labs
- Home Performance Coalition
- Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity
- Information and Real Estate Services LLC
- Institute for Market Transformation
- Metropolitan Regional Information Systems
- Midwest Real Estate Data
- National Association of Realtors’ Center for Realtor Technology
- National Association of State Energy Officials
- Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships
- Oregon Department of Energy
- PicketFence.com
- Real Estate Standards Organization
- Realtors Property Resource LLC
- Regional Multiple Listing Service
- U.S. Green Building Council
- Vermont Energy Investment Corporation
“We want to make it easier for real estate professionals to help sellers promote the green features in their listings and to help buyers identify these homes which are more energy efficient and eco-friendly,” said Jonathan Hill, vice president of marketing and communications at MRIS, in a statement.
The Department of Energy also announced the launch of another energy efficiency accelerator today, The Home Upgrade Program Accelerator, to support residential efficiency programs managed by utilities and state and local governments.
Those members include:
- Arizona Public Service
- Build It Green
- Building Performance Institute
- Clean Energy Works
- New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
- Pearl Home Certification
Two recent studies suggest homebuyers would pay more for homes with “green” features, but that most listing agents are not taking advantage of data fields in their MLS that would highlight those features.
