From resnet@earthlink.net Sat Nov 14 04:11:58 1998 Return-Path:Received: from iisc.ac.in (iisc.ac.in [144.16.64.3]) by ces.iisc.ac.in (8.8.6/8.8.6) with ESMTP id EAA20071 for ; Sat, 14 Nov 1998 04:02:22 +0530 Received: from goose.prod.itd.earthlink.net by iisc.ac.in (ERNET-IISc/SMI-4.1) id DAA27953; Sat, 14 Nov 1998 03:58:51 +0530 (GMT+0530) Received: from pool041-max9.ds6-ca-us.dialup.earthlink.net (pool041-max9.ds6-ca-us.dialup.earthlink.net [207.217.231.191]) by goose.prod.itd.earthlink.net (8.8.7/8.8.5) with SMTP id NAA16469; Fri, 13 Nov 1998 13:03:50 -0800 (PST) Received: by pool041-max9.ds6-ca-us.dialup.earthlink.net with Microsoft Mail id <01BE0F05.5B010840@pool041-max9.ds6-ca-us.dialup.earthlink.net>; Fri, 13 Nov 1998 12:58:48 -0800 Message-ID: <01BE0F05.5B010840@pool041-max9.ds6-ca-us.dialup.earthlink.net> From: Steve Baden To: "'Steve Baden'" Subject: ComplimentaryIssue of RESNET NOTES Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1998 12:58:45 -0800 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Status: RO X-Status: RESNET NOTES November, 1998 The Residential Energy Services Network's (RESNET) mission is to improve the energy efficiency of the nation's housing stock and to qualify more families for home ownership, by expanding the national availability of mortgage financing options and home energy ratings. For more information write RESNET at 475 College Blvd., Ste. 6-210, Oceanside, CA 92057 or e-mail RESNET at resnet@earthlink.net. Visit RESNET's home page site at http://www.natresnet.orgg/renewables/bioenergy-list-archive/sh.aspeds/deodeeet ******************************************** DONALD E. LANGE, CO-CHAIR OF RESNET MORTGAGE INDUSTRY STEERING COMMITTEE ELECTED AS PRESIDENT OF THE MORTGAGE BANKERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA Donald E. Lange, co-chair of the RESNET Mortgage Industry Steering Committee was elected as the president of the Mortgage Bankers Association of America at its national convention in Chicago. Mr. Lange is the president/chief executive officer of Weyerhauser Financial Services of Torrence, California. >From 1978 to 1996 Mr. Lange served in various executive offices for Weyerhauser Mortgage and Weyerhauser Venture Company including President, Chief Executive Officer, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and Chairman of the Board. He received his B.S. degree from the University of Wisconsin. The RESNET Mortgage Industry Steering Committee is co-chaired by Leland Brendsel, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Freddie Mac and its members includes the executive officers of Fannie Mae, Chase Manhattan, Mortgage, Countrywide Homes Loans, Norwest Mortgage, GMAC Mortgage, PMI Mortgage Insurance, United Guaranty, and American Mortgage and Investment Company. The committee provides policy oversight to RESNET. LAS VEGAS DIVISION OF WATT HOMES MAKES FIVE STAR HOMES STANDARD CONSTRUCTION The Las Vegas Division of Watt Homes is differintitating itself in the highley competive Las Vegas housing market through making Five Star homes standard. Watt Homes began their committment to energy efficient construction through the Building America Program. Starting in the Four Seasons neighborhood of Elkhorn Springs using the Building Science Corporation's building systems approach, Watt Homes constructs homes that reduce utility bills by 30% without significantly increasing the cost of the home. The first home built to the Buidling America specification was featured in th Las Vegas Review Journal/Sun. Consumer interest was such that Watt built other Five Star homes in its other subdivisions. Consumer response has been so great the Las Vegas Division of Watt Homes decided to adopt the energy efficient designs to all of their homes. The homes are rated through Energy Rated Homes of Nevada and take advantage of the marketing advances as being certfied as ENERGY STAR Homes. TUCSON DIVISION OF PULTE HOMES DISCOVERS MARKET DEMAND FOR RESIDENTIAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY Using a building systems approach, the Tucson Division of Pulte Homes are constructing Five Star homes that reduce utility bills by 30% without significantly increasing the cost of building a home. The Pulte Five Star Homes are certified under the U.S. Department of Energy's Building America Program and EPA's ENERGY STAR Homes Program. According to Andy Pedersen, Manager of Strategic Marketing of Pulte Homes, "Pulte Home Corporation is a strong believer in consumer research." To gauge consumer demand for energy efficient homes the Tucson Division included questions on energy efficiency on three sperate consumer surveys: The Buyers Study, which focused on the new construction and resale markets. The Options and Design Study, which investigated consumer perceptions of elements in new homes. And Pulte's Homeowner Survey, which asked Pulte consumers about their purchase decisions. The surveys found solid consumer demand for energy efficiency in new homes. The following is a summary of the results of Pulte Home's surveys: "In the decision to purchase a Pulte Home how important was energy efficiency?" Very Important 55% Important 33% Somewhat Important 10% Not Important 2% "If a builder could save you $300 a year in future heating and cooling by adding an energy package would you spend the money?" Yes, would spend $1,200-$1,500 66.9% Yes, would spend $1,500-$2,000 17.7% No 12.4% "Importance levels of issues related to decision to purchase Pule Homes" Interior Design 91.0% ENERGY EFFICIENCY 88.7% Builder Reputation 87.6% Kitchen Lay-out 87.3% Bedroom Lay-out 85.2% Kitchen Open to Family Room 82,2% Exterior Design 81.0% Sales Person 76.7% Split Bedroom Lay-out 75.0% Lot Size 71.8% Pulte Protection Plan 71.4% Bonus Room 56.8% Availability of Home 50.4% Formal Living & Dinning Areas 49.2% TOP METRO AREAS FOR NEW RESIDENTIAL PERMITS Metro Area Permits in 1998 % change Atlanta 32,348 13.7 Phoenix 28,245 20.0 Houston 26,729 51.9 Dallas 23,589 27.5 Washington, DC 21,389 30.2 Las Vegas 20,244 10.3 Tampa/St. Petersburg 19,897 2.9 Chicago 18,979 4.3 Orlando 14,232 19.3 Denver 13,099 10.6 Detroit 12,272 19.6 Charlotte 11,621 0.0 Raleigh/Durham 10,525 12.7 Portland 10,461 1.8 Sources: U.S. Department of Commerce & Cahners Economics, Professional Builder LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA HOMEOWNERS AND H&L ENERGY SAVERS TEAM UP TO OFFER INNOVATIVE ENERGY IMPROVEMENT CERTIFICATION PROGRAM The League of California Homeowners, a non-profit corporation, provides education and informational opportunities to California families regarding homeownership. The League has teamed up with H&L Energy Savers to promote more affordable housing through home energy ratings, cost-effective energy improvements and energy improvement mortgages through the Certified Performance 4 Home Program. Through the program, as a third party, the League will provide quality control and varification of the energy improvements. They will then issue a certificate labelling the home as a Perfromance 4 Home signifying the benefits of a cleaner, quieter, more comfortable home that uses less energy and is environmentally friendy. To be certified as a Performance 4 home, a home energy rating must be completed and the following mandatory improvements made: Attic insulated to R-30 or better Heating & cooling ducts must be properly wrapped and sealed Air infiltration must be reduced by 35% or more and verified through blower door test Low-flow shower heads on all applicable showers In addition, at least two of the following optional improvements must be made: Exterior wall insulation to R-11 or better Double-pane windows or better in all south & west facing windows Solar sun screens on all south & west windows Installation of water heater with Energy Factor of .60 or better Installation of air conditioner of 10 SEER or better Furnace with an AFUE of 80 or greater Installation of whole house fan or controlled ventilation. For more information contact Ray Hall, H&L Energy Savers at (909) 949-7943 SOUTH RISES AGAIN TO LAUNCH REGIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY INITIATIVE In order to foster a greater market penetration for energy efficient homes, compliance to the Model Energy Code, energy mortgages, and home energy ratings, residential energy efficiency professionals and representatives of state energy offices from the states of Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina have agreed to launch a regional alliance that will allow the sharing of resources, develop joint marketing efforts and strategic housing industry alliances, and set up a regional home energy rating infrastructure. Representatives of the North Carolina and South Carolina energy offices, the Advanced Energy Corporation, the Southface Energy Institute, Energy Rated Homes of Mississippi, the South Carolina Energy Research and Development Center and RESNET met at the Southface Energy Institute in Atlanta. They laid the groundwork for a southern regional business plan and provided a train-the-trainers session. Sam Rashkin of EPA's ENERGY STAR Homes and Traci Goins of the U.S. Department of Energy's Atlanta Support Office also participated in the meeting. A steering committee composed of Linda Perry of Energy Rated Homes of Mississippi, Dennis Creech of the Southface Energy Institute, Kermit Smith of the North Carolina Energy Division, and Craig DeWitt of the South Carolina Energy Research and Development Center were selected to provide oversight in the development of a regional strategic plan.