- Assurance released a new study ranking every state for 11 sustainability factors ranging from solar power to electric heat and recycling regulations, with Oregon coming out on top
- GeoSolar Technologies is an emerging leader in the space with its new Smart Green(TM) Home that includes a rooftop solar system, geothermal loops, EV charging station, and more
- As measured by the HERS Index, a Smart Green(TM) Home is essentially 100% more efficient than a typical home built in 2006
Whether motivated by financial incentives, environmental concerns, or both, people are increasingly looking to climate and wallet friendly technologies in their homes. In a study published on March 21, 2023, insurance company Assurance analyzed 11 environmental ranking factors to provide a clearer look at the green movement and discern which are the best locations for green homes.
Green homes use carbon-free technology like rooftop solar panels and electric heat pumps rather than those powered by fossil fuels. For full-service provider GeoSolar Technologies (“GST”), its Smart Green(TM) Home system takes decarbonizing a home to the next level. A whole-house audit is followed by optimizing insulation, designing, and installing a rooftop solar system for the home’s electricity, new electric vehicle charging station, backup battery power, upgraded windows, solar washer and dryer, smart LED lights, and new HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) system complete with geothermal piping, smart air filtration, and electric heat pump.
Geothermal systems use ground source heat pumps operating with a heat exchanger that, via a loop of pipes run hundreds of feet underground, extracts heat from the ground in winter and serves as a heat sink in summer to provide cooling. They are growing in popularity because they reduce the load on household units to bring the ambient air to the desired temperature. Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a free online tool for homeowners using geothermal systems to calculate their cost savings.
On the point of savings, GeoSolar’s Smart Green(TM) Homes have scored some of the lowest marks ever on the HERS (Home Energy Rating System) Index. A typical home built around 2006 scores 100 on the HERS Index. The further below 100, the more efficient the home is (i.e., a score of 70 means a home is 30% more efficient). Smart Green Homes score near zero, meaning they’re essentially 100% more efficient than a typical home built in 2006.
Assurance didn’t specifically mention geothermal in its analysis. However, geothermal is viewed by some as having the potential to become important in the later stages of decarbonization.
Using factors such as percentage of homes using electric heating, recycling regulations, and percentage of electricity from solar, Assurance ranked all 50 states on a scale of 0-50. Oregon came in first for green homes with a score of 39.7, followed by Nevada (36.6), California (33.7), and Arizona (33.4).
Not everything was led by the West Coast states. Texas (33.0) and New York (32.3) rounded out the top six. On a city level, Atlanta, Georgia had the most listing of green home (defined as homes with LEED and Energy Star certifications, along with several green features) on Redfin at 543 homes per 100,000 residents.
As far as trends, Washington leads the country with respect to transitioning to renewable energy. Underscored by 85 state incentive programs to switch to cleaner sources, almost half of the state’s energy consumption comes from renewable power. Florida was the hands-down winner for homes using electric heat at a whopping 91 percent. Even with Florida more than doing its part, the national average was just 36.6 percent.
Assurance also noted that having a green home provides benefits beyond being a steward of health for Mother Earth. There are incentives and rewards for transitioning from fossil fuels to renewables that can save money for upgrading a home, as well as saving money on insurance, loans, and taxes. For the energy-conscious resident, GeoSolar Technologies handles the whole process to ensure the homeowner capitalizes on every incentive available.
For more information, visit the company’s website at www.GeoSolarPlus.com.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to GeoSolar Technologies are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/GST
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