Investing in a Green Home
Author: FSBOJane • URL: http://www.fsbojane.comDecember 21st, 2007 •
Environmentalism Makes a Market for Itself
Take this as a fact for your future: green homes will soon be more valuable than non-green homes of a similar ilk. There are countless reasons why you should invest in a green home today, and an increasing demand for green products has spawned an exponentially expanding “green market.” Green-for-green, if you will. As green homes increase in demand, they will become a profitable investment, and so will the companies that contribute to the construction, design, and research of these homes. Here are some of the many benefits of going green:
Less Maintenance & Higher Resale Value
Green building exceeds basic building code requirements by using premium materials that are more durable and often of a higher quality. Green Building methods (better construction, attention to detail) enhance a home’s performance and reduce maintenance and replacement costs, kicking your home’s value up through quality construction.
Increased Quality of Life
A smart, tight design makes green homes significantly more comfortable and efficient than other homes. Green construction also encourages use of products and materials that reduce or eliminate sources of indoor pollution, keeping the air safe and healthy for everyone. Healthier paints, adhesives, and stricter emission and ventilation requirements help to achieve a healthy home.
A Solid Investment and a Better Mortgage
Green homes are more energy efficient and can result in utility bills being up to 65% lower. Green building promotes sustainable communities, a diverse economy and reduces our impact on the environment. Not only are green homes a solid investment, but going green can also snag you an Energy Efficient Mortgage or EEM, which makes it easier for borrowers to qualify for loans to purchase homes with specific energy-efficiency improvements.
EcoBrokers
EcoBrokers deal specifically with green homes, and organizations like the AEEREP (www.aeerep.org) are uniting to stimulate the green market through education and exposure of green principles throughout the world. After all, the benefits are tangible when you live in a green home: energy costs are lower, homes are more comfortable, and a smaller carbon footprint is left by your home.
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Tags: green homes, real estate investing
Joshua Dorkin
Charles Feldman
Ted Karsch.
Troy Schuricht
Richard Warren
Jim Watkins
Interesting. Difficult to justify as a rental property owner in buying a “green property”, but something I would definately take into consideration if I were to build or as I rehab existing units. Just like the lead paint issue, the toxic building materials including VOC’s we use in paints today, could be problems uncovered tomorrow. Using drywall that is mold resistant and paints that have low or no VOC’s make good business AND health sense.
Steven Boorstein
Landlord Business Insider
I have been reading more and more about this over the last few months. Mainly because I am reading more about the real estate market and everything that is closely related to it. This is a great post.
Thank you for great article
Green is def the way to go. In a short term materials may cost more but what they provide for the individual, community and society is worth so much more. And like steve said it makes good business sense to build with better materials, it makes homes easier to sell and it keeps healthy.
You need a temp of at least 45 degrees in order to grow anything in a greenhouse. You could try using a heat sink for some added warmth. If you live in an area where it freezes in the winter months, you are out of luck without heating of some kind. In the spring you could get some flats and start some seed. Get a few different types to start with. If this is your first time using your greenhouse, start small with a small investment. It’s not a simple as you think. I found that out this spring! Good luck!
Great post … it’s true, green buildings are undeniably the way of the future. There’s increasing tenant demand, even at slightly higher rent in my neck of the woods, partly because of the long term savings, and partly because our environmental footprint is starting to become important in its own right to people.
Of course, a lot of tenants are happy to see a slower, evolutionary move in the right direction.
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