What to Look for When Shopping for a Green Home

August 12th, 2010
Division: Green

More and more people are starting to realize the value of “going-green”. You might have already noticed a global shift as every day, more and more people accept their social responsibility to improve the environment through recycling, energy efficiency and waste reduction.

To help you make your move to green living, we’ve come up with a list of things to look for as you shop for a green home.

• Windows — Windows are essential to keeping the money in your wallet, by not allowing heat or cold air to seep outside of the home. When searching for a home, look for windows that are double hung or insulated with double panes.

• Light – Also try to get windows that are big, because they help light filter through your home. This is known as “daylighting”. Doing this will shave money off your electric bill every month and by the end of the year, you will see a big difference.

• Insulation - When it comes to insulation for homes, thick and properly installed installation can be determined by how well it was constructed. When you are doing research on a home that you like, make sure that it was constructed with insulation that has a high R-factor.

• Transportation — You may not have realized it before, but purchasing a home near public transportation is considered just about as green as it gets. In fact, the government will give out green points in the form of certificates to those homes that are located next to public transportation. Not only can you save on your yearly taxes, but it’s just a good idea to take public transportation to and from work to save on fuel for the car and harmful emissions.

• Daylighting – Homes that have skylights, big windows and plenty of light use daylighting to stimulate the room and attract the most useful resource in the Universe — the sun.

• Roofs – Your homeowners insurance will go down and your home will lock in the precious resources of heat if your roof is newer. Older roofs require a lot of maintenance.

Finding a green home is an excellent way to embrace your social responsibility. Are you ready to make the change?