From Guest Bloggers Luke Clum and Tali Wee: House Hunting – Tips for Buying a Green Home

With more homeowners subscribing to a green lifestyle, finding an eco-friendly home isn’t nearly as difficult as it once was. While few homes can claim a zero carbon footprint, many factors will keep a house low-impact. When house hunting, here are some factors to consider.

1. Location, Location, Location

Location isn’t just about being able to stamp a flashy ZIP code onto envelopes. Location says a lot about lifestyle, and environmental impact as well. Cities, for instance, are often lauded for their strategic use of space, and many boast leading green initiatives, such as rooftop garden projects.

The same mentality can be applied to homes in the suburbs. In rural areas, seek relatively dense neighborhoods with smaller homes. Large yards allow residents to plant sustainable gardens. Look carefully, at the aspect of a home– the way a home is positioned on its plot of land. Nearby trees on the sunny side of the house help shade the house in the summer, thereby lowering cooling costs. To source the best house location, use an online property search site, which can give you a good sense of location details before you set foot on the property.

2. Energy Star Appliances

The biggest energy costs inside a home are often attributed to its appliances. In fact, refrigerators, microwaves, air conditioners, heaters and dishwashers alone account for more than half of the average family home’s energy costs per year.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides an excellent online resource for identifying energy-efficient appliances. The agency also applies Energy Star labels directly to approved energy-efficient appliances to assist buyers with their purchases. Look for their seal of approval on appliances during open houses, ask sellers directly about Energy Star status or jot down names and model numbers to research them later online. Note that not all appliances are sold with a home, but terms can be agreed upon during negotiations.

3. Strategic Heating and Cooling

Together, heating and cooling are two of the biggest contributors to a home’s footprint. Buyers looking for a home that heats and cools in a sustainable fashion should consider these three contributing features.

• Energy-efficient windows. Double-paned windows are no longer the best on the market. The EPA now recommends low-emittance(low-E) windows, which are coated with a thin metallic glazing to prevent radiative heat flow, i.e., the loss of heat in either direction. When house hunting, look for low-E windows and avoid homes with single-paned windows.
• Eaves. For hot climates, look for homes with eaves that cover any parts of the home that face the sun, effectively working much like shading trees.
• Insulation. Many homes do not have proper insulation, primarily in the roof, where the majority of a home’s heat is lost. A green home will also have insulation in the walls.

4. Alternative Energy Sources

Purchasing a home with solar panels is a BIG bonus.. Solar panels can entirely green a home’s powering and become a revenue source. In sunnier climates, homeowners may be able to sell extra energy back to the grid. While solar panels are becoming more popular, they’re still not all that common. Throughout the house hunt, look for flat, unobstructed places on a home’s roof where panels could be installed at a later date. The cost may be significant upfront, but homeowners will see a significant return on their investment. Expect years of energy savings and government (local, state and federal) rebates and incentives.

5. Savvy Use of Water

The way in which a home uses water plays a key role in determining its green status, particularly in drought-prone areas. A few things to consider:

• Low-flow toilets, shower heads and faucets. Toilets alone account for around 14 percent of an average home’s water usage. Look for low-flow toilets that rely more on gravity than water for flushing. Use faucets and shower heads with EPA WaterSense labels to significantly reduce consumption.
• Rain barrels and grey water systems. Truly green homes use rain barrels in the yard or grey water irrigation systems to redistribute excess water from showers and laundry cycles to outdoor plants.
• Solar hot water systems and heat pumps. From hot showers to sanitizing dishwashing cycles, electric hot water systems contribute as much as 20 percent to a home’s carbon footprint. Look for a passive or active solar hot water system, which uses the sun’s power, panels and evacuated tubes to heat water, or geothermal heat pumps.

Takeaways

There are countless ways that a home can be “green.” When house hunting, focus on homes with green potential rather than green perfection. Buyers should ask sellers about the environmental footprint of the home. Some homes are LEED-certified upfront.. Don’t forget to bring along a green professional to check on the seller’s claims. Consider these tips when house hunting for the ideal green home.

Author Bio
Luke Clum and Tali Wee collaborated on the above article. Luke works as a designer and writer in Seattle, Washington. Tali blogs in the northwest and handles Miami community outreach for Zillow.