Low Scores, High Efficiency.

WHEN NICK BLUE OF BLUE SKY HOMES, A BUILDER and developer in Phoenix, decided to focus on "future-proofing" his company's homes and increasing their energy efficiency, his first step was to get a HERS (Home Energy Rating System) score. Today, nearly one out of every four new homes built in the U.S. is HERS rated, and the homes are produced by both small custom builders and large production builders, including major names like Lennar, KB Home, and Pulte. Custom home builder Tony Fiore, who started to test passive solar construction in the 1970s, wanted to create a model home that would be the culmination of his experience in energy-efficient building. Many home appraisers are not trained in how to do this, and mortgage bankers aren't always aware of or willing to offer government-sponsored energy-efficient mortgage products, thus putting the onus on the builder to educate the buyer. [Extracted from the article]