Energy efficiency means lower utility bills, less mortgage risk
Here鈥檚 some new impetus for those sitting on the fence over household energy efficiency: the risk of mortgage default is one-third lower for people with energy efficient homes, according to a recent study.
罢丑别听, released in March by the University of North Carolina鈥檚 Center for Community Capital, claims that energy efficiency can be the difference between mortgage repayment and foreclosure.听
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The Home Energy Efficiency and Mortgage Risks study examined 71,000 home loans from 38 states and the District of Columbia, with loans taken out from 2002 to 2012. The results showed that the chances of mortgage default were one-third lower for those with energy efficient homes.
Specifically, homes with lower Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index Scores overall showed a lower mortgage default risk, while Energy Star-labeled homes showed a 32% lower mortgage default risk.听
The HERS index is the brainchild of the Residential Energy Services Network (), which is a nationally recognized system for inspecting, testing and calculating a home鈥檚 energy performance. The intention is to give buyers a better idea of a home鈥檚 energy efficiency before purchasing.听(Related article:听)
It might sound like a bit of a stretch, but it鈥檚 as simple as saving on utility bills to make mortgage payments.听听
While the theory is indeed quite simple, the study is being lauded as the first real academic study to provide a link between mortgages and energy efficiency, so it鈥檚 being taken rather seriously. Other academics like the evidence.
It鈥檚 all about solvency, after all. Energy efficient homes can save up to $250 per month鈥攁n amount that for many households could be the difference between making the next mortgage payment.
According to a听听by the National Association of Home Builders, 90% of home buyers would choose the long-term saving of an energy efficient household despite the 3% (or so) additional cost they would accrue up front in buying such a home.
US households spent about $230 billion annually on energy鈥攁nd that鈥檚 not counting transportation. Some analysis suggests that residential energy efficiency鈥攚ithin the realm of the existing possibilities鈥攃ould save over $40 billion annually. (Related article:听)
RESNET Executive Director Steve Baden says the report will be a 鈥溾��.
鈥淭he finding that the lower the HERS Score, the lower the mortgage risk should increase consumer, builder, lender, real estate agent and appraiser confidence in the HERS Index Score. In light of these findings, RESNET calls on the mortgage industry to rationalize the underwriting process to take in consideration energy savings in the mortgage loan,鈥� Baden noted on the sidelines of a conference in Washington, DC at the time of the report鈥檚 release.
And here鈥檚 where it could get more interesting: Baden and others think the report鈥檚 findings will lead to revolution of sorts for home-buying. To that end, it urges lenders to听听for energy efficient homes and federal loan programs to employ more flexibility in such cases.
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