Top Green Home Buying Tips

Not long ago, if you’d have told your realtor that you were looking for a green house, they'd have handed you a gallon or two of emerald-hued paint. Nowadays, with increased eco-awareness and energy prices going through the roof it is all the more important to consider things like indoor air quality and energy efficiency. At Fitkova Realty Group we are keenly aware of environmental issues and overall home energy performance that matter to you.

Consider the heating and cooling systems carefully and make sure they are in good working order and sized appropriately. Windows should be checked to if they're single or double-paned, and at the doors, see if you feel a draft. Be aware of missing or inadequate insulation or signs of mold. Practice sound energy use for yourself and the health of the planet.

New York has one of the lowest ecological footprints in the United States due to their close proximity to shops, entertainment, and places of work. They live close to subways or a bus lines that take them to these locations. The lesson here? Choose your location carefully. It's worth thinking about commute distances, proximity of local facilities and how you are going to get around. Visit Walk Score to locate restaurants, parks, grocers and other businesses and amenities within walking distance of your possible future home.

It's the closest mantra we have to Being Green: small really is the new big, and less is more. The smaller your living space, the less energy is needed to heat and light it, and the less you have to spend on utilities too. With some thoughtful interior design you can create beautiful living environments out of some surprisingly small spaces.

Use a fresh coat of low-VOC paint as an easy, affordable way to spruce up your new home without contributing to poor air quality. Ripping up old, off-gassing, difficult-to-recycle wall-to-wall carpeting to refinish the hardwood underneath is tougher on you and on the planet. Likewise, replacing leaky, rusty, lead-leaching plumbing is a taller order yet, so be sure to "kick the tires" of the houses you're looking at so you can get an idea of the changes you'll want or need to make to create a greener, healthier living space.

Consider looking for property that will benefit from a upgraded green kitchen or bathroom as these are the two rooms that typically get the best return for your renovating dollar. You can still renovate according to ecological principles and get a double bonus: a greener, more efficient home and a higher resale value.

As the costs of alternative technologies like solar, wind, or geo-thermal power come down, they're becoming easier to find and easier to afford. If your home isn't already plugged in to off-grid technology you can see if it makes sense to generate some or all of your own power with DSIRE, the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency to see what rebates and deals are available in your state.

LEED-H, or Leed for Homes, released final guidelines for their residential green building certification in January, which means there isn’t a ton out there right now, though about 400 builders representing 10,000 homes across the U.S. participated in the LEED for Homes pilot program. If you're looking in New England, Energy Star Homes certify that homes meet the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) performance guidelines for energy efficiency. They're two programs on the rise, so be on the lookout for more green homes from both programs' guidelines and principles.

Before you purchase a property it is worthwhile to note the foliage that comes with the land. Big deciduous (leafy) trees are great natural climate controllers; in the summer, their leafy branches block the sun and can help keep your home cooler (reducing cooling costs), and, in the winter, the bare branches let more natural light and heat through to your home (reducing heating costs). Big old trees also offer potential homes for our fine feathered friends who can be helpful in maintaining your organic garden. Your neighborhood's biodiversity will benefit, too.

Ask yourself a couple more questions: Is there is big lawn that requires care (and lots of water) to maintain? (Remember, this isn't always up to you; some neighborhoods have homeowners' association rules that requires a certain level of lawn maintenance). Is there a good, sunny place for a garden or is there a good space for some good container gardening? It's definitely worth considering matching your potential home with the size of your green thumb.

$160 billion: The amount of money Americans spend each year to heat, cool, and light their homes. That energy represents about 21 percent of the national total energy consumption.

400,000: The number of families that could pay their fuel bills with the money saved if everyone in the U.K. topped up their loft insulation to 27cm (10.6 in).

$20,000: The increase in value to a home caused by installing a solar electric system, for every $1000 spent in annual operating costs.

85 million tons: The amount of CO2 saved annually (by 2030) if 60 percent of new homes in the U.S. were built according to dense, urban patterns, rather than typical suburban development.

Sources: U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Office, Energy Savings Trust, Renewable Energy Access

At Fitkova Realty Group, we recognize the importance of water efficiency, energy efficiency, and waste management, use of resource efficient materials, healthy indoor environmental quality and smart land use when it comes to buying a property. Fitkova can guide you towards making the most ecologically sound decisions and matching the right property to you.