Home & Garden Home Mortgages That Reward Energy Efficiency By Justin Thomas specialized in reviewing products and techniques for Treehugger from 2004-2008. He is the editor of MetaEfficient, a guide to efficient living. our editorial process Justin Thomas Updated October 11, 2018 Migrated Image Share Twitter Pinterest Email Home Thrift & Minimalism Pest Control Natural Cleaning DIY Family Green Living Sustainable Eating Cascadia Scorecard reports on a recent recent article that highlights yet another benefit of energy-efficient homes: they could qualify you for an energy-efficient mortgage (EEM). Since an energy-efficient house costs less to operate, Fannie Mae, the government-established private company that backs mortgages for low- to moderate-income homebuyers, recognizes that the money saved can be spent on housing costs. Thus, it adds the projected savings to the borrower’s income, raising that income and qualifying them for a larger mortgage. Built Green has a nice example how this can work on paper. :: Cascadia Scorecard