Third party testing determines GreenBuild homes have highest level of energy efficiency
State College, PA, September 10, 2018: The State College Community Land Trust (SCCLT) announces that its GreenBuild homes have been certified through the Department of Energy (DOE) Zero Energy Ready Homes (ZERH) program. ZERH status certifies that the GreenBuild homes are high performing homes so energy efficient that all or most annual energy consumption is offset with renewable energy. DOE ZERHs are verified by a qualified third-party and are at least 40%-50% more energy efficient than a typical new home. This generally corresponds to a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index Score in the low to mid-50s, depending on the size of the home and region in which it is built. Each GreenBuild home has a HERS score of -4.
“GreenBuild is expanding the definition of sustainability and affordability, and increasing access of high-performance technology to more types of homeowners,” said Colleen Ritter, Executive Director of SCCLT. “We are extremely proud to have achieved this Zero Energy Ready status as it is a huge accomplishment for sustainability in our community. Achieving Zero Energy Ready Home status is a tremendous compliment to our commitment of providing affordable homeownership opportunities over the short and long terms.”
GreenBuild demonstrates SCCLT’s intent to expand homeownership opportunities to middle-income buyers while increasing the energy efficiency of homes in their portfolio. SCCLT is actively acquiring and preserving homes throughout the Borough of State College. As housing becomes less affordable region-wide, SCCLT continues to place homes in trust that will remain permanently affordable, and is currently exploring ways to apply the lessons of GreenBuild to energy efficient retrofits to their other 41 homes.
GreenBuild was created through collaboration between SCCLT, the West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund, the Borough of State College, Penn State Hamer Center for Community Design/Energy Efficient Housing Research Group, Centre County Government, S&T Bank and many generous donors. Architecture and administrative services were provided by Henry Architecture and Design, and Weber Murphy Fox, Inc. The homes were constructed by Envinity, Inc.
About State College Community Land Trust: Since its founding in 1996, the SCCLT has been “building community through homeownership” providing first-time home buyers with affordable housing opportunities in the Borough of State College. In the past 22 years the SCCLT has purchased 41 houses and rehabilitated them for sale or resale to individuals, couples, and families. The nonprofit organization assisted over 65 households in obtaining the dream of homeownership with an innovative shared equity program. The SCCLT is a 501(c)3 organization.