 limate change. Carbon footprint. Biofuel. They're terms that didn't even exist several years ago. Now sustainable, or "green" living is on everyone's mind. According to the National Association of Home Builders, even as the housing market has moderated in many parts of the country, the demand for green homebuilding and remodeling is exceeding the available supply-and that's despite the fact that green homebuilding has risen 50 percent since 2004. So, why the sharp rise in popularity? Many are realizing that a lifestyle that uses less energy, fewer natural resources and fewer toxic chemicals is not only healthier for the planet, it's also healthier for our families.
The benefits of a green home A healthier home We spend most of our time indoors, so the quality of the air in our homes is important. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the air inside the average home is two to five times more polluted than the air outside. One of the culprits is the advances in new construction. The "tighter" sealing is great for energy savings, but it also reduces the amount of fresh air entering our homes. That allows chemical fumes from paints, adhesives, carpeting and household cleaning products to build up. Using natural and low-toxic materials creates healthier indoor air, and can help reduce the symptoms of allergies, asthma and other respiratory ailments. A good way to start is to use cleaning products made from natural and non-toxic ingredients. If you're remodeling, choose low-VOC paints and stains to reduce toxic fumes. Furniture made from whole wood is a better choice than that constructed from plywood or particleboard, both of which give off fumes from chemicals such as formaldehyde that are used in manufacturing. The same goes for carpeting. Natural carpet, such as sisal, cotton or wool, is preferable to synthetic carpet; synthetic carpet "off-gases" the chemicals used in manufacturing. That's where that new-carpet smell comes from.
Cost savings Living green is healthier for your pocketbook, too. The savings from an energy-efficient home add up fast, mostly in lower utility bills. How much lower? A builder in California sells homes equipped with solar panels, additional insulation and other energy-saving features that boast utility bills 60 percent less than conventional homes. While the homes cost more, the higher monthly mortgage payment is more than offset by the energy savings. If you're not ready to install solar panels, consider giving your ducts a checkup. The typical house loses 15 percent to 20 percent of its heat or air-conditioning leakage from ducts alone. Make sure they're well sealed and insulated, and watch your energy bill go down. More good news: The government wants to reward energy savings as well, so there are a number of local and federal tax-credit programs that offer incentives to homeowners who install energy-saving features, such as insulation or energy-efficient windows.
Greater resale value Having an environmentally friendly home also pays off when it comes time to sell. According to a survey by the Shelton Group, 78 percent of consumers say they would choose one home over another based on its energy efficiency, and the majority would pay more for energy-saving features. Another study by a Colorado builder showed that similar-sized green homes sold at a $20,000 premium over non-green homes-great news for sellers. The good news for buyers: After the utility bills were included, the green homes cost less per month. One more sign that green is hot is the increasing number of buyers who are taking advantage of an Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM). These "green" mortgages benefit the borrower in several ways. First, the estimated energy savings are added to the buyer's income, allowing them to qualify for a larger mortgage amount. Second, the EEM allows borrowers to roll the costs of energy improvements into the total mortgage amount, allowing the upgrades to be paid for over the life of the mortgage. |  |  | Home Pricing Guide www.JoeZapataHomes.com | Green your home today Here are some low-cost, high-yield things you can do right now to leave a lighter footprint on the environment. 1 Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs. The CFLs of yester-year used to be big, hard to find and spendy. Now you can get them at nearly any store that stocks light bulbs. They're a bit more expensive than traditional incandescent bulbs, but they last 10 times as long and use much less power. Need a little extra nudge to make the switch? How's this: According to the Environmental Protection Agency, if every American swapped out just one incandescent bulb for a CFL, we'd save enough energy to light 2.5 million homes for a whole year. 2 Unplug electronics and appliances. TVs, computers, audio systems and other electronics often have a "standby" mode that can use up to half the power they draw when turned on. Plug your entertainment equipment and other devices into a power strip. Just switch off the strip and you eliminate any standby draw, and also protect your equipment from possible power surges. Contrary to popular belief, turning a computer on and off is not harmful, and it has a huge energy-saving impact. According to an NPR report, U.S. companies alone waste more than $1 billion a year on electricity for computers that are left on when not in use. 3 Adjust your thermostat. Here's where a small change on your part makes a big impact on the environment. As much as half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling. By setting your thermostat just two degrees lower in the winter and two degrees higher in the summer, you'll save about $100 a year in energy costs-and about one ton of greenhouse gases that won't make their way into the environment. 4 Install water-saving products. Switch to low-flow faucets, showerheads and toilets, and you can reduce water use by 40 percent. 5 Clean your air-conditioning filter. Air conditioners with dirty filters have to work harder, which means using more energy. Depending on where you live, your air conditioner may need cleaning as much as once a week. The good news: A clean filter keeps out allergens and other irritants, and a clean-running unit can save you $150 a year on your energy bill. 6 Re-think your laundry. There are two ways to reduce the amount of energy used for washing clothes-use less water and use cooler water. About 90 percent of the energy used for washing clothes is for heating the water. Unless you're dealing with oily stains, use warm or cold water. Switching your temperature setting from hot to warm can cut energy use in half. You'll also save resources by washing and drying only full loads. 7 Use healthier home-improvement products. Many paints, stains and adhesives contain toxic chemicals called volatile organic compounds (VOCs). When you use the products, they release toxins into the air that affect the quality of the air in your home, sometimes causing headaches and nausea. For the healthiest choice, look for products that are low-to non-toxic or labeled "low VOC." 8 Insulate your water heater. A water heater uses most of its energy keeping the temperature of the water in the tank warm. Most of this heat is lost through the walls of the tank. Wrap your water heater with insulation that has an "R" value between 7 and 11, and you reduce the heat lost by 40 percent or more. |
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