Residential Research Quarterly: March 2020

In this first quarter review for 2020, we highlight reports on the toughest and easiest markets to find a home, indoor air quality strategies in India, the U.S. market outlook for green features and a new guide for states on home energy labels.

Toughest and Easiest Housing Markets to Find a Home | Realtor.com

This analysis by Realtor.com examines existing and predicted housing inventory in markets across the country. According to the data, San Jose, California, is the market toughest for buyers to find a home, with an average of four listings per 1,000 homeowner households—compared to the national average of 16 listings per 1,000 owner-occupied homes. In addition to number of listings per 1,000 households, statistics including median listing price and price fluctuation were taken into account for the rankings. Researchers reported that the U.S. housing supply continues to struggle, which is notable for the upcoming historically busy spring home-buying season and the recent economic stagnation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Interesting in learning about green homes? Check out Green Home Guide.

Indoor Air Quality and Thermal Comfort in Green Building: A Study for Measurement, Problem and Solution Strategies | Department of Civil Engineering, Amity University Haryana

This recent study out of Amity University Haryana, in India, reports that indoor environmental quality can be improved by implementing proper building ventilation methods and adhering to established systems like those established via ASHRAE and LEED. The report states that although pollutants can originate from indoor sources, like building materials, these conditions can be mitigated.

Learn more about how LEED v4.1 credits contribute to enhanced indoor environmental quality.

Green Single Family and Multifamily Homes 2020 | National Association of Home Builders

This new study, conducted by Dodge Data & Analytics, examines the incorporation of energy-efficient practices into residential buildings, and found that over 90% of home builders self-report using such approaches in their projects. The study also shares that 70% of single family homebuilders believe that their customers will pay a premium for a “green” home, with 34% of builders and remodelers surveyed considering third-party certification to be “high-impact.”

As previously highlighted, USGBC’s 2019 report LEED in Motion: Residential revealed that the number of LEED-certified homes in the U.S. has grown since 2017. Learn more about how LEED can support energy performance (and savings) in our policy brief.

Home Energy Labeling: Steps States Can Take to Support City-Based Energy Labeling Initiatives | National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO)

Developed by Earth Advantage for NASEO, this reference guide is designed to assist state energy officers (SEOs) and other statewide organizations interested in increasing residential energy labeling activity in their respective states. Included in the report are a four-step set of recommendations that can be used by SEOs to assess their own state energy goals, whether or not local governments are considering investing in a voluntary energy labeling program or developing a policy to mandate home energy labeling.

Read more about how LEED supports energy efficiency goals on our Benefits of Green Building page.

If you have suggestions for future studies we could share, please contact Alysson Blackwelder.

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