Green building is flourishing in the United States. With the demand for more sustainable and energy-efficient homes increasing, green construction initiatives have blossomed to previously unheard-of highs, becoming more profitable than ever in recent years. Currently, the Green building market is worth approximately $81 billion in the US alone. 

 

If you are searching for a LEED™ certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) housing development or home, let your realtor know. There is a push for these new Green homes in many housing markets, so builders are incentivized to offer eco-friendly options. Realtors can help find builders awarded with the LEED™ international certification and homes without the certificate that have been improved to meet eco-friendly standards or were renovated with eco-friendly materials and systems. 

 

A home classified as Green or eco-friendly must meet specific energy standards and consume less water and natural resources to function. The house will, therefore, create less waste and be healthier for the people living inside. Due to the higher cost of using environmentally friendly materials and systems, these homes initially tend to be slightly pricier. Still, they retain their value, and often on resale, will net up to 15% more than their non-green counterparts. So, not only will the cost of running the main systems of the house be less, but the overall value of the house will also be more significant, making Green homes an excellent investment for you and your family.

 

Things to look for when shopping for an eco-friendly home:

 

• Energy Star (certified energy efficient) appliances and fixtures

• Air quality systems

• Double-paned and low emissivity windows

• Solar panels

• Natural light

• Native, drought-tolerant landscaping

• Low-flow toilets

• Water-saving showerheads

• On-demand hot water systems

 

Green renovations and new construction should include:

 

• Reusing as many of the original materials (walls, doors, foundations) as possible

• Selecting local merchants for any new materials to reduce shipping costs

• Adding energy-saving heating and cooling systems, point-of-use water heaters, solar panels, energy-efficient appliances, etc.

• Insulation with closed-cell foam or recycled insulation products like recycled denim

• Using structural panel systems and eco-roofing systems

• Prefabricated modular units with LEED™ certification for additions or new construction

• Selecting paints, stains, and adhesives with low or zero volatile organic compounds 

 

Choosing to purchase a Green home will help the environment and save you money, better your health, and provide you with lower-cost maintenance over the life of the home. If you are in the market for a fully Green, LEED™ certified home, many manufacturers offer prefabricated modular homes that can be built on a lot of your choosing. These homes are manufactured off-site in a climate-controlled environment to produce a solid home and then shipped to your lot and assembled. These homes can be tied into utilities like water, electric, and sewer with ease and are designed to offer a modern look, with all the technological advances of Green construction to save you money and valuable environmental resources.