nwilkens

This is a great thread. I think the sticker is a great idea. Being a designer and having focused on energy-efficient homes for the past 4 years, I believe this approach would make it easier for the buyer to more easily identify with the level of greenness of their potential home. Designing any innovative and efficient home requires specialized knowledge and training.

To the person who says the buyer is always right...yes, and no. I only say no because we cannot expect a buyer or client to understand the myriad complexities of designing and building a new energy efficient home - let alone remodel one in the same way. I don't portend to know more than my doctor or attorney (although I can ask for second opinions). If a client wants a large west-facing 2-story window in a warm sunny climate, will I tell them that a standard insulated glazing system is good enough...no, and I do not expect my client to know this.

In a profession where a greater amount of technical knowledge is becoming more important, I feel strongly that educated, trained professionals (both architects, designers, and builders) have to be on the same field with their knowledge.

Clients come to us with either the explicit desire to have an efficient home or not...I think it is important for architects, designers, and builders to impart, at minimum, the best practices approach to sustainability into each project. Having a "yellow sticker" at the end of the day will more easily help every client realize in more tangible ways how they have invested their money, what the potential worth is - besides the beautiful house of their dreams ;-)

In the next 10 years when that house goes up for resale; being a drafty palace built according to 1970's (or even 90's) standards will probably not sell as well as the house with the easily recognizable "yellow sticker" with the high energy efficiency rating.