Eco-rate for Architects & Builders
Eco-rate is a comprehensive product and technology comparison resource that evaluates product performance in terms of efficiency, environmental impact, human health and financial feasibility. We’ve sorted through the complicated algorithms and have researched thousands of products and technology types to save you time, allowing you to do what you do best: design and build!
Eco-rate's unique product rating platform, compare technologies pages, and Buying Guides help you strategically choose the most efficient products at the best price for your project. The site supports your and your clients' overall mission to successfully construct sustainable, efficient and healthy structures while minimizing waste and natural resource consumption and staying within budget.
Eco-innovations
Eco-rate’s founders work as green building consultants for Eco-innovations, a green building, green marketing and energy consulting company based in Seattle, Washington. Eco-innovations promotes sustainable choices by focusing on the environmental and economic benefits of sustainable products, practices and policies.
Eco-rate was developed to support the mission of Eco-innovations by enhancing online product and technology comparison capabilities that focus on the mutually beneficial nature of sustainable products: good for the planet and good for the bottom line.
Finding program-eligible products on Eco-rate
Eco-rate specifies product performance as it relates to ENERGY STAR®, WaterSense® and LEED® compliance, ensuring you meet your green building program requirements with ease.
LEED®
Products on Eco-rate feature a LEED Compliance tab that notes whether the product is eligible to help achieve LEED points. Click here to see an example.
We currently provide eligibilty information only for the LEED for Homes Rating System. We are in the process of including eligibility information for the other LEED ratings systems.
For more information on LEED, please click here. With questions about LEED or how Eco-rate can support the success of your LEED project, please contact Eco-rate’s LEED Accredited Professional by email or by phone at 206.708.7464.
ENERGY STAR®
Most of the products featured on Eco-rate are ENERGY STAR qualified, including all computers, dishwashers, dryers, freezers, refrigerators, televisions, washers and light bulbs. Click here to learn more about ENERGY STAR.
Eco-rate allows you to review the most efficient and cost-effective of the ENERGY STAR qualified products.
WaterSense®
All toilets and bathroom faucets featured on Eco-rate are WaterSense qualified and perform well beyond federal standards. Click here to learn more about WaterSense.
Eco-rate allows you to review the most efficient and cost-effective of the WaterSense qualified products.
Renewable energy
Eco-rate is the first website to compare the efficiencies and financial feasibility potential of different solar panel and wind turbine products. We have rated solar panels according to their conversion efficiency ratings and purchase price (not including inverter and installation costs) and wind turbines according to estimated energy output (kWh) at 11 miles per hour and purchase price (not including tower or installation costs). We have also rated solar panel and wind turbine technologies against one another on our Renewable Energy Technology page.
Use Eco-rate to help your clients understand the costs and benefits of implementing renewable energy technology on their properties. Contact Eco-innovations for more information.
Compare technologies
Eco-rate helps you evaluate the various heating and cooling, water heating, lighting, insulation and renewable energy technologies currently on the residential marketplace by rating each technology according to its average environmental impact, consumption (efficiency), toxicity (when applicable), lifecycle cost and price. We have done the research and calculations for you to save you time and enable you to analyze which technology might be the best fit for your project and to present your conclusions to your clients using an easily-accessible online source.
Learn more about green building
To learn more about green building, visit our Forum, where you can connect with other building professionals; share and read project success stories; and learn about green building strategies and programs. We also invite you to click on the links below to read green building statistics and browse regional and national green building programs.
For more information
For more information about how Eco-rate can support your project goals, or about Eco-innovations’ green building consulting services, please contact Brycelaine Self, LEED AP, by e-mail or by phone at 206.708.7464.
