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Build an Energy-Efficient Home

Planning to build a home? Energy Trust has tools and resources to assist you from design through completion to ensure energy efficiency and renewable energy options are built into your new home.

Before construction begins, learn more about EPS™, an energy performance scoring tool that rates home energy consumption and estimates your utility costs. Building your home to meet EPS requirements is a great way to ensure quality, comfort and energy savings and earn cash incentives in Oregon and Southwest Washington. And it’s just one of the many helpful resources available to you.

Don’t Forget Solar

When you build with solar in mind, a home’s orientation and roof design are set up to get plenty of sun exposure to optimize a future system. A solar-ready home also has the required conduit and space saved in the electrical panel to ensure that a future solar system will be easier and less costly to install. Net zero homes have the solar already installed and a design that enables 100% of the home’s electricity usage to be powered by solar.  Be sure to ask your builder about installing solar or making your home solar ready.

Become a Trade Ally

Take your homebuilding to the next level by becoming an Energy Trust trade ally. Meet EPS requirements and you’ll receive cash incentives in Oregon and Southwest Washington, plus have access to marketing tools that help distinguish your homes from the rest. Builders in Southwest Washington can choose from one of two pathways to earn cash incentives:

Learn how to become a trade ally, apply for an EPS and discover available incentives to builders.

Homebuilding Resources

Find a Trade Ally Builder
Work with a builder who makes quality and energy efficiency top priorities.

Home Certifications
See which energy certifications work with EPS.

Solar for Your Home
Produce your own electricity by going solar.