It IS Easy Being Green!

“After completing a green remodel, a recent client discovered that their utility bills were lowered over $400 a month!”

graphic of a shopping cart with a green home in it

The National Association of REALTORS® 2010 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers reports that 88% of homebuyers consider heating and cooling costs somewhat or very important when searching for a home to purchase. In a November 2010 survey conducted by the National Association of Home Builders, 77% of those polled said green homes are somewhat or very important. It is evident that there is high interest in lowering utility expenses and having a healthy, eco-friendly home.

Between technological advancements and more efficient products over the last ten years, remodeling a home can bring about significant monthly savings. After completing a green remodel, a recent client discovered that their utility bills were lowered over $400 a month! Along with the benefit of lower energy bills, there can be tax credits and utility company rebates available as an incentive to offset the cost of qualifying home improvements.

The energy consumed by home appliances has dropped sharply since 2000. If a homeowner has a limited budget, they can retrofit and replace inefficient appliances. New refrigerators, dishwashers and clothes washers combined account for a 43% decrease in energy consumption. Did you know that an average Energy Star-rated refrigerator will consume less energy than a 60-watt light bulb? But don’t reuse the old one as a second refrigerator, which will negate your savings and defeat the objective! Don’t send a unit to a landfill, either; it contains toxic refrigerants. If it is working, sell or donate it, or check with your municipality to see if they will recycle it.

Know the Green Client

A McGraw-Hill Construction survey describes green home buyer demographics: 71% are female, nearly 2/3 have an annual income over $50,000, the average age is 45, 79% are college-educated and 65% are married.

NAR reports that older buyers are significantly more likely than younger buyers to cite energy efficiency as important, probably because they are more likely to be repeat buyers and thus are more attuned to the importance of energy costs.

NAR's 2010 home buyer profile indicates that buyers in the West are more likely to say that energy efficient lighting, landscaping and community features mattered to them than buyers in other parts of the country.

Most people are aware that Energy Star-rated appliances have met strict guidelines to be energy efficient. You should also be on the lookout for the WaterSense conservation rating for toilets, shower and bath faucets, and irrigation systems. A WaterSense faucet can reduce water use by 30%, saving a typical family 11,800 gallons of water a year. A WaterSense showerhead will save a typical family an equivalent of 385 bottles of water in a week. Replacing a nine-year-old or older washer can save nearly 5,000 gallons of water a year. And you can save an average of 4,000 to 15,000 gallons of water a year if you use high-efficiency or dual-flush toilets. Ask an experienced remodeling professional to recommend the best products to use. A showerhead or a toilet could qualify to be “green,” but if it takes you twice as long to rinse out shampoo and the aerator makes you use more hot water—or if it takes several flushes to rid the toilet bowl of its contents—that’s not really green, is it?

If you or your client have the goal of making decisions that will be environmentally friendly, you should also beware of “green washing.” There are some businesses that will claim that they are “green,” but ask about the process of making the product. There was a company that strongly promoted that they used a high percentage of recycled glass in their countertops, but when it was discovered that they shipped barges over to China for the glass to be crushed and then had it shipped back, that contradicts the claim to be green. China also mass produces less expensive bath vanities that many sell here. Wouldn’t you rather spend a little more to get a made in the USA, low-formaldehyde, eco-friendly cabinet?

When discussing green building and remodeling, remember that REALTORS® have an obligation to remain within the limits of their expertise. Be accurate and honest. Do not position yourself as an expert on all green-related issues but rather provide the client with some of the factors to consider and direct them to reliable sources for additional information, such as an experienced remodeler or the EPA’s Energy Star website.

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It IS Easy Being Green!

Energy-Efficient Homes Are Increasingly Attractive to Buyers

Know the Green Client