Going Green is the Future in Home Savings

Real estate experts will tell you that the wave of the future includes energy conservation. With the rising cost of fuel as well as environmental education and advocacy prominently noticeable in the public eye, Green building and remodeling is catching on.

The construction of green homes is actually a niche in the state where some builders are reporting an increase in business this year. Following the recession and challenges in the market this increase in activity is amazing news. People want to save on energy, not just now, but over a lifetime, and when it comes to resale value, it helps these days to have that energy saving bonus to your property. It is also possible as more homeowners renovate to add Green features and new homes are built with these features in place, Green may actually become expected by tomorrow?s home buyers.

Green building means considering and incorporating environmental and resource efficiency into every step of the building process as well as how the land is developed to minimize environmental impact. It is a step in a positive direction in dealing with increasing energy prices, waning water resources, and changing weather patterns. According to the National Association of Home Builders, it means making intentional decisions about:

• Energy efficiency improvements such as high levels of insulation, efficient HVAC systems, high-performance windows and energy-efficient appliances and lighting
• Water conservation measures such as water-efficient appliances and fixtures, filtration systems, and drought resistant or low-maintenance landscaping
• Resource conservation using materials and techniques such as engineered wood and wood alternatives, recycled building materials, sustainable harvested lumber, and more durable products
• Indoor environmental quality considerations such as effective HVAC equipment, formaldehyde-free finishes, low-allergen materials, and products with minimum off-gassing or low volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
• Site design planning such as minimizing disruption and preserving open space

Newer homes are significantly more energy efficient than they were 20 years ago. About two-thirds of homes have builders who are incorporating at least some green features into the structure and as the home building industry begins to revive, it will be a significantly greener market of homes to buy.

If you are looking for a Green home you should know there are different levels to this designation and the more Green a home is the greater its price tag may be. But you can opt for just a few added energy saving features and still get an amazing value. For example, a home can have green features like above standard insulation and a geothermal heating system that earns it an Energy Star rating, meaning products meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency. By choosing Energy Star qualified heating and cooling equipment homeowners saving energy and money on utility bills as well as protect the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the fight against climate change.

If you are searching to be above the pack in Green living, then you would look for LEED building standards which is the US Green Building Council (USGBC) national standard for green building. They have developed a green rating system called Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), which is the national benchmark for determining different levels of green. There is a long list of criteria in meet LEED standards and it includes not only the choices of material but how far the building material had to travel (shipping uses fuel) to get to the construction site.

Most important, whether you are looking at an existing home or building your own, realize that you can begin with the basics like good insulation, energy star windows which lower household energy bills by 7-15 percent, an energy efficient furnace or a hot water heater that heats only what you need- when you need it. If your dream home does not have these features, know it is something you can do in the future to increase energy savings as well as the market value of your property in years to come.

For more info visit www.energystar.gov or www.buildgreennh.com

Source: http://blog.verani.com/green-future-home-savings/

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