Maine Real Estate News

When it comes to energy expense, Maine homeowners are in line with the rest of the country – investing in projects designed to encourage conservation and efficiency. This is especially true given our colder winter weather!

It comes as no surprise then that according to the results of the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) quarterly Remodeling Market Index (RMI), 33 percent of surveyed remodelers report that they are increasingly requested to improve the energy efficiency of their client’s homes. The RMI measures remodeler perceptions of market demand for current and future residential remodeling projects.

Additionally, the increased interest in maximizing home performance with green remodeling options comes at a time when the NAHB is preparing the National Green Building Standard, which features the only consensus rating system for remodeling. This standard provides a practical guide for green remodeling and assures consumers that remodelers know how to plan and complete authentically green remodels.

According to the survey, remodelers have installed a number of efficiency-enhancing products in recent months, including:

Windows - 73% of surveyed remodelers installed more energy-efficient windows that are insulated to prevent outdoor heat exchange.

Insulation - 65% completed upgrades such as insulation replacement and spraying foam or fiber insulation into enclosed walls and roof cavities, while 27% insulated foundations and 52% installed insulated exterior doors.

High-efficiency HVAC systems (56%)

High-efficiency kitchen appliances (47%)

Water-saving faucets and fixtures (46%)

Newer technologies are also quickly gaining in popularity, according to the NAHB. 35% of remodelers reported installing tankless water heaters, which save on energy costs by heating water on demand instead of continuously eating energy.

Green technologies are sure to be an important topic in the months to come and we will continue to post additional updates as they become available.