A new study claims the risk of mortgage default is one-third lower for energy-efficient homes, according to a report from RealEstateRama.

Of the 71,000 people surveyed with loans originated in the 10-year span running from 2002 to 2012, about 35% had energy-efficient homes. The study was conducted by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Center for Community Capital and the Institute for Market Transformation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting energy-efficient homes.

“Consumer and industry acceptance of energy efficiency is high. But the lack of broad consideration of potential energy savings in the mortgage underwriting process still prevents many moderate- and middle-income homebuyers from fully enjoying the cost savings,” said Roberto Quercia, the center’s director and one of the authors of the study.