My podcast this week is with Gordon Shields, executive director of the Net-Zero Energy Home Coalition, which is promoting the idea of homes that produce just as much energy as they consume — i.e. keeping their overall energy footprint at zero. This is an extremely interesting area, one that doesn’t get much coverage but which represents an important long-term goal as we try to minimize greenhouse gas emissions from the residential sector. So far we’ve only seen pilot demonstrations and a target of 1,500 net-zero homes in Canada, but over time the idea is to develop standards that make the construction of sustainable net-zero homes part of mainstream homebuilding.

A bunch of things need to happen over time to make this work. Home builders need to buy in. Banks need to buy in and offer “green” mortgages. The real estate industry needs to become educated and search capability on the MLS system needs to expand to include “green” home features such as annual energy consumption and use of renewables such as solar or geothermal. This contributes to the idea that home energy efficiency and renewables add resale value to a home, similar to adding a new bathroom or putting in a new kitchen with granite countertops. (Actually, it’s ridiculous that we place more value on that granite countertop than the solar thermal system that provides your hot water). Once the resale value is calculated, purchasing a geoexchange or solar PV system becomes more affordable — not just because it lowers your homes energy costs, but because you’ll recoup some or all of that investment in the resale of the home.

The good news is that more and more homebuyers are considering the operating cost of a home and factoring that into their purchasing decisions. Given that energy costs represent a majority of those operating costs, it’s only a matter of time — sooner, let’s hope, rather than later — that homebuyers start demanding EnergyStar rated homes and renewable systems, and start penalizing those homes that fail to meet these standards.

On the real estate front, I have to say I’m encouraged that there are a few agents trying to make change in this regard. One agent from London, Ontario, has started a grassroots e-mail campaign hoping to create awareness amongst his peers and put pressure on local real estate boards to embrace the greening of the real estate industry.

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