MOU Also Calls for Passive House Education Efforts PORTLAND, Ore., .July 11, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Earth Advantage Institute (www.earthadvantage.org), a nonprofit green building resource that has certified more than 11,000 homes, and the Passive House Institute US (PHIUS) announced their intent to work together on development of an Energy Performance Score (EPS) label that can be issued for any home certified to the Passive House building energy standard. The plan is part of an overall collaborative effort in the residential building sector that will also include education courses for professionals and consumers. The cooperation is expected to boost the adoption rate of Passive House-certified homes. The EPS is a miles-per-gallon-style rating system for homes that allows buyers to compare estimated annual energy costs and energy consumption among different homes. It also provides an incentive for homeowners to undertake energy upgrades. Currently more than 1900 homes have been rated in the Northwest, and pilot programs are underway in Massachusetts, Virginia and Alabama. The EPS offers an energy efficiency metric for appraisers, lenders, insurers and other sectors providing services for the home industry. Under the terms of the agreement, Earth Advantage Institute and PHIUS have agreed to recognize each other as affiliates. The two organizations expect to provide each other with access to project criteria and building data and plan to jointly develop guidelines on accounting for carbon emissions within the program. Following contract finalization, Earth Advantage Institute also plans to host Certified Passive House Consultant training at its facilities in the Northwest.
