Introducing Green Gauge

Finally! A simple assessment open to new AND existing homes! Green Gauge is a simple program that assesses how "green" a home actually is. It is the perfect comparison tool for buyers or sellers of green homes or for homeowners needing recommendations on how to make their home "greener".

Need a snapshot assessment to help sell an already green home? Participants will receive a One-page "Gauge" highlighting the green features of the home and illustrating how the energy and indoor water use of the home compare to average homes in the region. Also included is a Summary Report that includes all assessed information and recommendations. The information can provide a marketing advantage to those wishing to sell their efficient home, or it can be requested by a buyer who wants to make an informed decision about the true cost, which includes the operating cost, of the home.

For homes without a HERS rating, Green Gauge participants will also receive an Energy Performance Score (EPS). EPS is an energy-rating system similar to the miles-per-gallon rating for the auto industry. Conceptualized by Earth Advantage Institute and supported by funding from the Energy Trust of Oregon, the EPS provides an estimate of actual home-energy consumption based on a detailed analysis of the home as well as related carbon emissions. It shows homeowners where they rank in The Green Gauge Report and provides valuable information and suggestions about how to green the home along with easy access to qualified contractors, incentives and potential financing opportunities.

All information will be tracked in a secure database for homeowners to access and update over time so that no matter who owns the home, the information is always available. Since the ultimate goal of the program is to encourage improvements to homes, for a small fee, a home's Green Gauge can be updated to reflect green upgrades. Though information about individual homes will remain private, a long-term goal of Green Gauge is to catalog detailed information about the performance of homes in our area so that energy and water-use performance of homes can be compared based on square footage, ZIP code and number of bedrooms.

Contact us to get started: Maggie@wncgbc.org or 828-254-1995