reen” means many different things; from living close to work so your commute is on foot, to passive solar design, rain water harvesting, geo-thermal HVAC and solar photovoltaic electricity. It is a movement, passionately pursued by many, that combines design, materials and the use of alternative energy sources to build homes that are healthier, more comfortable and cost less to run.
As this movement gains more and more traction, it is critical for agents to identify and communicate these values to their sellers. If you were in a listing presentation and asked the seller what the cistern out back was for, or what the panels on their roof were, the seller would not place much confidence in your ability to properly market their home. On the buyer’s side, you can build value by properly conveying the energy savings (as much as 40%) of a passive solar designed home. Read our post on passive solar design
In this post, we’ll discuss materials that any homeowner can employ that will greatly increase the efficiency of
their home:
- Rain Water Harvesting
- Geo-thermal HVAC
- Solar Photovoltaic Electricity
Rain water harvesting has many benefits. Typical rain harvest systems collect rain from the roof and deposit it into a cistern. Rain water is softer than your utility water, so it requires fewer chemicals to treat it for drinking. Collecting it reduces demand on ground water supplies and rivers. You can harvest sufficient rain water for your landscape even in drought areas, which can save you 30% or more on water bills. Your landscape prefers rain water over utility water and will flourish, consuming more carbon and giving you a “greener” yard. Rain water harvest systems are not expensive; a typical retro-fit costs around $8,000.
To calculate how much rainwater you could collect, multiply the average rainfall in your area by the roof surface by the slope of your roof. In Austin, where I am located, we only receive about 33 inches of rainfall a year, considerably less than most cities. An average home in Austin will produce 45,000 gallons of rainwater per year. Considering the average family of four uses about 10,000 gallons of water per month, you receive significant savings plus the “green” benefits.
Geo-thermal HVAC systems use the earth to jumpstart your air handler to heat and cool your home. A traditional HVAC system draws in the outside air, and heats or cools it by running it over a radiator type device. It is very inefficient to draw in 30-degree air and heat it to 65 degrees, or to cool 100-degree air to 75 degrees. The earth has a free source of energy at a constant 68 degrees; all you have to do is tap into it. Geo-thermal HVAC systems are 60% more efficient than traditional HVAC systems.
There are two types of geo-thermal HVAC systems: closed and open loop. A closed loop system either drills small boring holes vertically or channels horizontally (the choice is determined upon where you live), then lays pipe typically filled with propylene glycol. The glycol is circulated through the pipe by a small pump. Regardless if your air handler heats or cools the glycol, the earth tempers it to 68 degrees, a far better proposition than using the outside air. Closed loop systems also use lakes as “heat sinks.” The water temperature at specified depths tempers the glycol to the desired 68 degrees.
Open loop systems use ground water to jump start your air handler. A well or water source is circulated through your air handler versus using glycol. The challenge with open loop systems is that you must have sufficient use for the water because in most cities you are not permitted to redeposit it back into the earth to avoid contamination.
When most people are asked to name a “green” feature, they will respond with solar panels. Solar panels absorb the sunlight and convert it into electricity. This is done by an ingenious chemistry of adding boron and phosphorous to the panel, forcing the electrons to migrate to the other side where they are drawn down a line to an inverter that converts the captured energy into usable electricity.
There are two types of solar electrical systems: grid connected and stand alone. Grid connected systems feed the electricity back to your utility. In many states, your utility will credit you if you produce more electricity than you consume, referred to as net metering. Stand alone systems require batteries to store energy when the panels cannot capture the sun.
Where you place your panels is important. Panels can either be mounted in a fixed position or placed on a mechanical device that tracks the sun. Fixed panels need to face southwest (south captures the most sun; west captures the cost-benefit from your utility). Tracking systems increase energy capture by 40%.
The sustainable movement has arrived and the real estate agent is in a key position to educate the public about its benefits. Communicating intelligently with sellers and building value with buyers is crucial, as your knowledge is power.
We recently hosted a webinar through our WAVEpresents series, “Green Technologies: Become An Expert To Build Value.”
Next we’ll discuss
- Energy Sources
- Thermal Skin
- Landscape and Wildlife Sanctuary
- Federal Tax Rebates
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