Green Buildings Take Over the Market
Energy-Efficient Homes Are the Response to Increased Energy Prices
Jan 12, 2009
Offers for green buildings, called also sustainable buildings or high performance buildings, become more and more frequent. While it is admirable that building companies respond to the market demand and to the desire of buyers to have energy efficient homes, not all energy efficient homes can be called green homes. Energy efficiency is a major criterion for a green building, but this does not mean that an energy efficient home is a green building by definition.
Green Buildings Defined
There are many definitions of green buildings, and one of the most precise ones is the definition of the US Environmental Protection Agency:”Green building is the practice of creating structures and using processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's life-cycle from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation and deconstruction. This practice expands and complements the classical building design concerns of economy, utility, durability, and comfort.“
As can be seen from the above definition, a green building is not just solar panels and energy-efficient bulbs. It is useful for buyers to know this fact because it is not uncommon to see advertisements, which state that a particular building is a green one, while it doesn't fully meet the criteria for a sustainable building.
An Energy-Efficient Home is not Necessarily a Green Building
Increasing energy prices and environmental consciousness are among the main driving forces behind the green building concept. Buyers are concerned with the expenses they will have in order to maintain a home and that is why they are right to demand energy saving home construction and equipment.
Very often a green home costs more upfront but is cheaper to maintain and this in the long run leads to savings. However, though it is maybe not exactly fraud or manipulation, it is not uncommon to see a home marketed as green home, while it actually has a couple of energy saving features only. There are standards for what home is a green one but since there is no universal, mandatory standard, many building construction companies take advantage of the popularity of green homes and use this label even for homes, which have just one or two green features only.
Potential Buyers of Green Homes Must Know What to Look for
That is why it is important for buyers to know what a green building is and what isn't. Geothermal waters are great but not when one has to invest a fortune in order to make use of them, they are not that great anymore. The same applies to solar panels – they are hardly the best offer for cold, rainy countries. Energy saving light bulbs are cool but if the window insulation is poor and the residents have to use more energy to maintain a decent room temperature, then this is certainly not a green home.
Every potential home buyer should know what a green home is, so that he or she can't be easily fooled by clever sales tactics. In fact, there are many steps for a green home and some of the most important ones are described here.
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