Taking your home into the green
“Green homes” aren’t just a fad… they’re the future
The rising prevalence of eco-friendly construction and upgrades has become a serious trend rather than a specialized oddity. Homeowners from Gen Z and other demographic groups are making green features a priority as they search for properties. Realtors® are seeing more buyers place value on everything from sustainable materials to smart technology, as those features can improve energy efficiency, a major concern as costs rise and eco-consciousness grows. It’s clear that “green” features are no joke — they have become part of the bottom line.
The goal of eco-friendly developers is to build new homes with sustainable materials that use resources wisely and hope to improve efficiency in the running of the home. With climate change and rising energy costs ever-present in the minds of many consumers, this is never been more important. Existing homes can be upgraded in many ways to improve their green profile as well. Features to consider include, but are far from limited to:
- Energy Star-rated appliances
- More efficient climate control
- Building and upgrades using recycled materials or natural resources
- LED bulbs and fixtures
- Electrical systems that can run on renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and kinetic generators.
This is by no means an exhaustive list, but is a good starting point, marking the largest factors that can affect a property’s sustainability.
Is smart tech “green”?
The use of smart home technology as a green feature may seem counterintuitive since the devices and sensors do require some electricity and internet access. However, smart technology isn’t just about asking a speaker to play music, set a timer, or answer questions. A well-designed smart home puts that tech to work by connecting heating/cooling and alarm systems with lights, electricity, water, and more, allowing them all to run more efficiently, offering monitoring features to the homeowner so they can make adjustments quickly, and using fewer resources overall. The alerts available to the owner of a smart home also offer a chance to solve problems more quickly, before damage sets in. Smart tech is worth considering in your overall plan.
Regional advantages
This “green” trend is gaining traction across the US, and many cities and states are not only offering incentive programs for eco-building and smart upgrades, but Realtors® are finding that green features can be a significant plus when selling a home. There has already been plenty of discussion in the real estate world about solar panels, more efficient installations, and local advantages such as public transportation, pedestrian throughways, and recycling programs, as all of these things can make a property more desirable. As these options further establish themselves in the social consciousness, eco-friendly features are becoming the norm rather than the exception, suggesting that homeowners and builders of new homes should give these options some serious consideration as they plan their next moves.
A tool for you
Regardless of your location, your current build, or your budget, it’s never too late to go greener, and there are things you can do now to make your existing home more sustainable. As Earth Day approaches on April 22, you might want to take stock of your properties to see where changes might be made. Most people will do this over time, of course, and knowing where you stand now will offer a chance to plan your upgrades in an attainable way.
We’ve put together a checklist with many ideas of things you can do to upgrade your current home. Download and print this worksheet as an exercise and a chance to plan your very green next steps.
