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Green Homes, House Hunting, Home Buying - The Green Guide

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The mortgage meltdown of 2007 has prompted many sellersand buyersto shy away from the housing market and wait out the storm. But with mortgage interest rates and housing prices tumbling, now is one of the best times to buy in... See more » The mortgage meltdown of 2007 has prompted many sellersand buyersto shy away from the housing market and wait out the storm. But with mortgage interest rates and housing prices tumbling, now is one of the best times to buy in years. Green-minded buyers will find ample opportunity in the booming green-home-construction market. A 2007 National Association of Housing Builders survey found that, nationwide, there are nearly 100,000 homes certified by various green-building programs. The U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Homes launches officially this month, after a popular three-year pilot during which more than 384 homes were certified in 12 markets across the country. Acting director Jay Hall, Ph.D., says that based on findings from LEED's pilot program, homes that qualify for LEED's minimum standards cost only 2 to 5 percent more than conventional homes. In the face of increasing energy costs, factoring in savings on utility bills makes green homes an even better deal. LEED-certified homes offer utility savings of 40 percent compared with conventional homes. Those savings can offset any higher mortgage payments resulting from energy-efficient upgrades. So, where does a green-minded buyer begin? Here's what you need to ask before writing your offer. Be aware that homes come in widely different shades of green. There's no single standard definition of a "green home," but most industry experts agree that a green home is about more than just energy-efficient appliances and windows. Truly green homes look at the bigger pictureenergy and water efficiency, indoor air quality, conservation of natural resources, even minimizing community impacts. As with certified organic food and Fair-Trade coffee, there are independent certification programs that can independently verify how green a "green home" is. The LEED for Homes program "provides the only nationwide third-party benchmark for green homes," says Hall. To become LEED-certified, homes must be at least 15 percent more energy efficient than a comparable home built to code. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star program, best known for ensuring energy- and water-efficient appliances, also includes criteria for Energy Star Qualified Homes. Whereas LEED takes a more holistic approach with criteria for indoor air quality, material use, water efficiency and landscaping, Energy Star focuses solely on energy efficiency, requiring homes to be at least 15 percent more efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC). Many include additional energy-saving features that make them 20 to 30 percent more efficient than standard homes. In addition to these, there are more than 80 local and regional green-home certification programs across the country. Other reliable third-party certifications include Earth Advantage, EarthCraft House and Vermont Builds Greener, while green building programs such as Built Green and Austin Energy Green Building Programs offer rating systems as well. LEED's Hall says that although these programs are all very similar in the green features that builders must include, they differ in the performance required for certification. To find out if a regional green building program exists in your area, visit www.greenhomeguide.org. 2. How do I find a green-minded real estate agent? While a handful of websites like ListedGreen.com are dedicated to listing green homes, those sites only showcase a small fraction of what's available, and you'll likely need an agent to help you find a greater selection. To that extent, real estate agents trained to recognize green homes can be good allies, says John Beldock, CEO of EcoBroker International, an organization that trains green-minded real estate agents. EcoBroker is a good place to start to find brokers who have specific training in green building, as they're required to complete energy, environmental health and marketing courses that help themand youfind more eco-friendly and energy-efficient homes. But, as with any agent, it is See less »

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Green Homes, House Hunting, Home Buying - The Green Guide

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