Buyers of energy-efficient houses in Oregon now have something to crow about besides lower utility bills. Under a new statewide program, they won't have to make a downpayment, and their mortgage rates will be under 6 percent.

In an effort to boost the construction of resource-efficient houses, a coalition of home builders and lenders have formed a partnership with state housing and energy agencies and Oregon's largest utility to promote resource-efficient housing.

"As housing and energy costs increase, it is critical for Oregon's public and private-sector housing and environmental groups to work together to alleviate these costs," said Gov. John Kitzhaber.

The Oregon Sustainability Solutions Alliance will include participation by Oregon's Office of Energy, Department of Housing and Community Services and Department of Consumer and Business Services Building Codes Division.

Together, these departments will provide $1 million in low-interest mortgages at 5.95 percent to purchase resource-efficient homes. They also allow cost-savings to be leveraged with Oregon's energy tax credit and loan programs.

In addition, the state will help monitor the benefits of energy and water efficiency generated under the initiative, and explore streamlined and alternative energy codes and inspections in concert with Portland General Electric.

The program will include the utility's comprehensive "Earth Advantage" green-building program for home builders, and Fannie Mae will make its "Home Performance Power" mortgage financing initiative available through HomeStreet Bank and Countrywide Home Loans.

PGE certifies that Earth Advantage homes meet standards including environmentally sound building practices and the use of recycled materials. The utility also works with builders to provide education and guidance throughout the building process.

Homes built to Earth Advantage standards are designed to be at least 15 percent more energy efficient than homes built in compliance with state building code.

Fannie Mae's suite of Home Performance Power products can increase home-buying power by using projected energy and utility savings to qualify eligible borrowers for a larger mortgage.

Loans available through the initiative, including the Energy Efficient Mortgage Underwriting Variance, have a low or no down payment requirement, and have a low 3 percent borrower "contribution" for closing costs that can come from a gift, a grant, the borrower's own funds, or manufacturers' rebates on energy-efficient home appliances.

"The Oregon Sustainability Solutions Alliance is a win-win approach that balances Oregon's housing and environmental needs, and helps to achieve stable communities, stronger economies, and a healthier environment in Oregon," said Gov. Kitzhaber, who announced the program at a PGE-certified Earth Advantage home in Salem.

Built by Covenant Homes, the house was designed to provide exceptional energy efficiency and healthier indoor air, while promoting resource efficiency and environmental responsibility the four program features of Earth Advantage.

The Oregon program is one more step in the slow but growing movement to produce more resource-efficient design and construction, both inside and outside the house.

Ten years ago, Austin, Texas' "Green Building Program" was the only local initiative in the country giving market recognition to green builders and their homes. Today, the NAHB Research Center in Bowie, Md., counts at a least a dozen nationwide the Denver Built Green program alone qualifies more than 1,200 houses a year with more under development.

One of the stumbling blocks to more widescale development is that there are currently no standards for building and measuring resource-efficiency. But there is plenty of guidance available, says Lisa Bowles, executive director at the Research Center.

Bowles sites these advantages of resource-efficient houses:

• Lower operating costs Homes that require less heating and cooling and use less water have lower utility bills. And more durable components reduce upkeep and replacement costs.

• Less work Lawns that require less watering and weeding and decks that don't need to be cleaned and sealed every few years translate into more free time for more enjoyable endeavors.

• Greater value Not only are owners are getting better resale prices when they can document lower utility bills, a growing number of buyers are placing a higher value on resource- efficient houses.

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