Green homes gain market share

Green-certified homes make up an increasing share of the Portland market while the price premium associated with energy- and water-efficient construction drops.

The Earth Advantage Institute reported 403 green-certified homes sold in the year that ended April 30, or 23 percent of the new home market. Two years earlier, 833 green-certified homes sold in Portland, but represented only 14 percent of the pre-recession market.

Over the same period, the premium for a green home dropped to 18 percent, from 21 percent.

The figures refer to homes that are certified by Earth Advantage, Energy Star or the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED for Homes certification.

"As energy efficiency and healthier homes gain more attention, builders and homeowners increasingly place value on home certification," said Sean Penrith, executive director of Earth Advantage. "It is very encouraging to see the market share of certified homes continue to rise over the past three years despite the difficulties in the residential markets."

The figures are based on data reported by real estate brokers to the Regional Multiple Listing Service for Multnomah, Clackamas, Columbia, Washington and Yamhill counties in Oregon, and Clark County in Washington.