How to Buy a Green Home

What to Look For When Buying a Green Home

by Branford Lyles

Buying a green home is a sizeable way to reduce your ecological footprint. And with recent government incentives for doing so, buying green can save you money around tax time. There are, however, some important things to take into account when considering a green home purchase.

Tools for Starting

If you plan to hire an agent to help you find an eco-friendly home, make sure to look for one that specializes in this type of market. Not all real estate agents will have this expertise so make sure to ask for referrals or ask questions about an agent’s background. Real estate agents that specialize in this market are known as eco-brokers and they have been specially trained to identify homes with green features.

A rating system is used to identify homes that are truly green scheme. Before you buy a green home check to see the green rating that the house received or analyze and study the house carefully to identify the features that you consider green. To rate the ‘greenness’ of your potential home, you should conduct a home energy audit. There are several eco-friendly housing sites that can provide you with the necessary checklist to conduct an energy audit yourself. This can save you money and educate you about green homes in the process.

What to Expect

Be prepared to pay more for less space. Oftentimes, green homes are smaller because they maximize space as a way to eliminate waste. The smaller the home, the less energy needed.

In addition to being smaller, green homes also tend to feature smaller yards. Less grass means less water. Consider if the space can be used as a place for a vegetable or herb garden to further your ecological goals and look for shady trees to help conserve energy in hot weather. Green homes should feature special landscaping that ensures heat is reflected, not retained, to sustain a cooler environment.

What to Look for

Solar Panels and Wind Turbines: Check to see if these have been installed, because, along with other renewable sources of energy, they are the backbone of green housing.

Low Maintenance: Conventional building materials will require more maintenance than materials used in eco-friendly homes.

Increased Insulation: This includes floor insulation, which in some cases is built right in to the concrete foundation. In addition to the walls, floors and ceilings, windows should also be insulated.

Water Conservation: Low water-use toilets and those that have different flush options are eco-conscious. Shower heads, washing machines, faucets and dishwashers can also be equipped to limit the water used without compromising function.

Non-Toxicity: Look for a home with low VOC paints. VOC stands for volatile organic compounds, which are toxins that gas-off from conventional paint. The lighter the pigment, the lower the VOC’s, so white or off-white walls are healthier than some of the bolder, trendy colors.

Cork or Bamboo Flooring: Bamboo is popular because it grows so quickly, is versatile and comes in a variety of styles and colors. Cork is an option because it is sustainable to harvest.

After the Purchase

Make sure to check federal and state tax laws to see if there are any special rebates or deduction you now qualify for as a green homeowner.