Benefits of Green Home

The benefits to a green home are twofold—first they are better for the environment, yourself, and your family and, second, they save you money over the life of the home.

Green homes can offer significant financial benefits such as:
* Proper insulation and air sealing will keep your heating and cooling costs lower, while efficient windows, appliances, lighting, and other household equipment will lower your electricity bills.
* Green homes are built with high-quality building materials so they are more durable and require fewer repairs.
* As the market demand continues to rise for green homes, investing in a green home now can mean increased value in the future.

Green homes often include the following additional benefits
* Health benefits: Green homes use toxin-free building materials, utilize natural ventilation, and have fewer problems with mold and mildew, just to name a few.
* Environmentally friendly: Green homes use less energy than comparable standard homes. Often, green homes use alternative energy sources, reducing dependence on conventional energy sources.
* Use fewer natural resources: Green building uses fewer natural resources, and many of the materials used have recycled contents, keeping with the “resource conservation” green principle.
Did You Know? Green homes use 40 percent less energy than comparable standard homes.

Common Misconceptions:
Where's the Green?: As the first community in Southern California to participate in the state Energy Commission’s new solar homes partnership, O Bel Sole! Estates will feature 41 energy-efficient, solar-powered homes in Lancaster. This home's solar panels are barely visible in the roof. The community’s solar features will enable owners to reduce their monthly electric bills and also benefit from a $2,000 federal tax credit.
Photo courtesy: Jennie Stabile, broker-owner of Tarzana-based J. Stabile, REALTOR®
Here are some of the most common misconceptions about green homes--as well as current information.

1) Green homes are more expensive. Although some green remodels and buildings can be expensive, buying a new green home doesn’t have to be more expensive than a traditional home. When builders construct a new home to “green” certification standards, they often pass the cost along to the buyer, which can make the initial price of a new green home higher than that of a traditional one. However, as energy costs continue to rise, many buyers are finding the long-term savings they will accrue from an energy-efficient house outweigh the higher price tag. Also, as the practice of green construction increases, the cost of green building will continue to decrease.

2) Anything that claims to be green, is. Many companies are jumping on the green bandwagon; however, there are many products that claim to be green, but in fact aren’t. Your green-credentialed REALTOR® or EcoBroker® should be able to help you discern what is truly “green” and what is not. Make sure you—and your REALTOR®—know the difference and can cut through the greenwashing.

3) A new home is always a green home. Just because a home is newly built doesn’t necessarily make it environmentally friendly or energy efficient (a key component to having an eco-conscious home). In fact, most new homes are NOT environmentally friendly, as typical materials utilized include VOCs, etc. Having a professional energy audit conducted is the best way to find out how energy efficient a new home is.

4) Green homes look unconventional. As the above photo demonstrates, green homes can look the same as traditional homes; they just have different features that make them more environmentally friendly.

5) Green homes are uncomfortable. Green homes can have the same features as a typical home; they just function in a different, more eco-conscious way. Additionally, although some green products, like low-flow toilets, often get a bad rap for not working properly, typically, green products function at the same, if not higher, levels than your standard products.

Did You Know?: Building a standard 2,500-square foot-home creates approximately two tons of construction waste. Construction of a green home usually generates 50 to 90 percent less waste.
Victoria Wells
Broker Associate Bradley Real Estate
415-710-4090
www.marinbesthomes.com