InterNACHI and Boulder County EnergySmart Join in Partnership

BOULDER, Colo. (May 16, 2012) – A new partnership between InterNACHI and EnergySmart (www.EnergySmartYES.com) will result in InterNACHI-Certified Professional Inspectors® driving demand for home energy improvements. 

With $12 million in seed funding from the U.S. Department of Energy's Better Buildings Neighborhood Program, EnergySmart is working to prompt homeowners and businesses in Boulder County into energy-saving action. Since January 2011, EnergySmart has paired each participating homeowner and business owner with an Energy Advisor—an expert who helps move them from assessment to upgrade with minimal hassle. Pairing financing incentives with step-by-step assistance has effectively addressed many key barriers in the energy-upgrade process, resulting in energy improvements and happier customers.

Homebuyers are increasingly concerned about energy issues, asking questions such as, “How much will this home cost to operate?” and “How can I save money by saving energy?”  Home inspectors nationwide sit down with about 5 million new homeowners every year and spend several hours talking about those homes. The typical new homeowner starts planning home improvement projects at the point of sale and will spend around $8,000 in the first year on their new home. That’s $40 billion of work that can be influenced by the home inspectors.

More than any other consumer, a recent homebuyer spends the most money on major home improvements projects, but often with little regard to energy. EnergySmart can assist them with prioritizing and implementing these projects, as well as providing rebates and financing to make upgrades more affordable. Leveraging home inspectors to target homebuyers with consumer education can better drive demand for these services.

In this new partnership, InterNACHI-Certified Professional Inspectors® and EnergySmart Advisors will work together to reach residents and businesses in all Boulder County communities to motivate them to take the next step in saving energy, which will help protect the environment and spur the economy.