How to Buy a Green Home
Looking for a new home? This can be a great opportunity for you reduce your ecological footprint.
Look beyond the décor and consider the location, size and style of your house and take advantage of government grants for home energy audits for a resale home or a new EnergyStar home.
- Find a Green Realtor
Find a Realtor with good knowledge of environmental issues and programs and services available to assist homeowners to reduce energy. - Conduct an energy audit
Because the Home Energy audit is such a new concept, most resale homes will not be energy rated. If you are considering a new home, take the opportunity to purchase an Energy Star certified home. Realtors are just starting to recommend energy audits to sellers as a selling tool. Until the Energy Audit Act becomes law, it will be hit and miss if you are looking for an energy rated home and you certainly can't afford to get a professional energy audit for every home you are considering! Therefore it is imperative that your Realtor is well informed about home energy conservation and the grants and programs available. As a guide, download The Energy Conservation Kit produced by the National Association of Green Realtors and Brokers (NAGAB), from my website at http://www.livingincollingwood.com/green. - Location is Imperative
Consider how close the house is to shops, school, Church, entertainment, work-place and public transit. Choose your location very carefully. - Size Matters
Although large houses are still popular, the trend will be for smaller homes and more efficient floor plans with no space wasted. The smaller the home, the less energy needed for heat and light and the less you money spent on utilities. - Expect to Upgrade
Once you have found the home you want, go ahead with a professional energy audit and expect to upgrade and implement some of the suggested changes. Re-decorate with low-VOC paint, upgrade the air system, remove old carpet and replace with wood floor. Renovate according to your ecological principles. The Canadian government will pay 50% (up to $150.00 max) towards the audit and provide grants towards certain upgrades. Visit the Home Energy Savings website http://www.homeenergyontario.ca Anything you upgrade will add value to your investment and create a greener, healthier home. - Research your renewable-energy potential
Another new trend - depending on where you live there is an exciting possibility of generating some or all of your own electricity with rooftop solar panels or a backyard wind turbine. The costs of solar, wind, and geo-thermal power are falling and becoming easier to find. This may not be attainable immediately in your area so keep an ear to the ground for news to come. - The Yard
Just as smaller houses are becoming popular, so too are smaller yards. Less lawn means less water. A small space for a garden is ideal to grow some of your own fruits, vegetables and herbs. Consider a space for compost pile or bin. Look for trees to help conserve energy in hot weather.
Happy home hunting! If you are considering a new or resale home in the area of Collingwood, Blue Mountain or Thornbury, Ontario I can help you find a GREEN Home or a home with the best potential for energy efficiency.
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