 Many potential green homebuyers often try to balance the cost and sustainability of their home choices. EnviroCitizen.org knows that having a green home not only helps the Earth, but it will also help your health as well as your wallet and quality of life.
The net cost of owning a green home is comparable to (and sometimes even less pricey than) owning a standard home. If upfront costs are higher, it is often because many architects, homebuilders, engineers, plumbers and other industry professionals just don’t have the knowledge or experience to plan, design and build a green home. Finding a professional familiar with green building will save you money and ensure you’re getting the best-quality work possible.
When you purchase a home in a LEED certified building, it is almost certain that your energy bills will be reduced, saving you money in the long run. Now you can use that money for other things besides your utility bills. You can further take advantage of this by using renewable energy. Your home value increases an average of $20,000 for solar systems with under $1000 upkeep and can even help cancel out the upkeep if it helps to put energy back in the grid.
When scoping out property, it is important to think of how well and fast a home will sell if you will sell it in the future. It is true that green homes sell better. Since energy costs are at an all time high, the low costs of operating and the easy maintenance of green buildings are quite beneficial.
Green buildings offer control of temperature and ventilation along with increased natural lighting. These things attribute to much improved indoor air quality. It has been found that the improvements result in better health. Ventilation systems filter and bring fresh air inside and vent stale air outside, keep everyone feeling better with clean air. It also has been known to create a much happier environment for occupants so that they are more active, happy and have more social, fulfilling lifestyles.
Soon, it may cost less to insure a green home than a standard home. An increasing number of insurance companies are offering discounts on policies covering green homes. Similarly, several mortgage companies offer discounted loan rates for homebuyers buying green. A green home is often more durable than most standard homes because of the high-quality building materials and construction processes used. Local, state and federal governments are increasingly offering tax breaks and other incentives for building LEED homes or adding green features to your home. EnviroCitizen.org encourages you to browse through your state, county and local government websites to learn more about financial incentives offered for those with green homes.
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