By ,
Published January 31, 2017
Today's real estate buzzword is decidedly colorful: green, as in green homes. But since these types of houses aren't usually painted that verdant hue, they can be hard to pick out of a cul-de-sac. So what exactly are green homes?
If you're looking for a poetic description, "a green home is built with a much larger home in mind -- planet Earth," says Ryan Fitzgerald, owner of Raleigh Realty. A nuts-and-bolts description is a home made with environmentally friendly materials and sustainably built, with a focus on the efficient use of water and energy. And with demand for these types of houses rising (hey, there are even green Realtors), it's a perfect time to learn just what makes a home green.
The history of green homes
Historically, homes were constructed "with the traditional standard building code in mind, leaving little leftover budget to consider energy efficiency," says Nick Falkoff, owner of Auburndale Builders in Massachusetts.
As a result, energy currently used by residential buildings is largely generated in a not-so-green way -- by burning fossil fuels that now account for nearly half of global emissions.
The soaring energy prices of the 1970s jump-started the idea for eco-friendly homes. But today's concern over global warming -- along with an increasing shift to organic products and overall demand for structures that gobble up less energy -- has accelerated the green home movement. The real estate market reflects this trend, with more and more buyers seeking energy-efficient homes that will shrink their ecological footprint.
What makes a green home?
In the 1990s, the U.S. Green Building Council and the LEED building standard were created to provide a framework for certifying buildings designed sustainably. The aim is for the full life-cycle of the home -- from initial construction to the finished product -- to have a minimal impact on the environment, says John Oppermann, a real estate broker, lawyer, and founder of GreenRealEstateNYC.com. A building that implements a variety of the holistic techniques below can meet green building standards.
How to make your home green
The less energy and resources a home uses, the greener it is. One of the biggest ways to go green is to install clean, renewable energy like solar panels or wind turbines. If that's not in the cards, there are plenty of smaller ways to be eco-friendly. Try a few of the following ideas:
Now who said it isn't easy being green?
https://www.foxnews.com/real-estate/what-are-green-homes-a-great-way-to-save-money-and-the-environment