Sustainable homes for sale are the green wave of the future. What is a sustainable home? It is a home that is created to benefit the occupants, the community, and the environment.
The environment is a major concern for many North Americans. For most of us we have been doing our best to be sensitive of mother earth for some time with recycling bins, with green compost bins, with hybrid cars, and other such endeavors.
Savvy home buyers are beginning to ask about the interior of homes and if it will be healthy for their families. What can we do to make sure that the air we breathe at home is healthy, and that same air doesn’t produce green house gases in its creation, which negatively impacts the environment?
These and other questions are on the minds of many home buyers today.
There are numerous benefits to living in a sustainable home whether it is a sustainable condo or house, and the following are a few tips to help you get ready for this green wave:
1. Better air circulation than conventional condos. Conventional or typical condos use mechanical ventilation like a dedicated ceiling fan, which is the same as spot ventilation fans.
Or you may be familiar with the ducted central exhaust fan located in the basement or attic of a home, which uses energy to convert either warm air or cool air from the outside that is then heated or cooled for indoor ventilation.
These units are inexpensive to install, but in today's energy efficient times they are costly to run, and because they utilize a lot of fossil fuels to produce electricity. It is the constant heating or cooling that is needed for this type of ventilation system that leads to increases in green house gas production and waste of lost energy.
Sustainable condos have better air circulation, at cheaper costs, because they use an air to air heat exchanger. These units are often heat recovery ventilation systems or energy ventilation systems. A heat recovery ventilator typically recovers 60%-75% of the wasted heat in the exhaust air from the house and sometimes from the spot ventilation fans.
They are more expensive to install, but the savings in energy consumption leaves more money in your pocket from year to year. They produce much less green house gases, and it is interesting to note that the use of these systems is wisest in cold climates, where energy costs are high.
2. When buyers consider sustainable homes for sale they look forward to better use of natural lighting and improved light quality. For a long time we have been using incandescent lights or regular light bulbs. They are very cheap, and take a lot more energy to operate.
Energy efficient light bulbs are called compact fluorescent lights (CFL) and can last up to seven years based on 3 hours usage per day. Compact fluorescent lights work on a different principle than incandescent light, which I will not get into here, but they produce less heat, and thus less energy, but still give us the light we need. They are a bit more expensive, but last years longer.
However, note that not all (CFL) are the same, and some work better under different circumstances. For example, you would buy a specific (CFL) for reading, and a different one to light the entire room. It is definitely a good idea to consult an expert about different types of lighting needs, and about disposing of (CFL).
While we are on the subject of lights it is good idea to replace your old incandescent Christmas lights, with energy efficient Christmas lights bulbs like the new light-emitting diode (LED) technology.
Without getting too technical, they use much less energy than incandescent light, and produce almost no heat, so will not cause fires. You will find you don’t have to replace blown lights each season, because these last up to 30 years, and will just fade with time.
3. Sustainable condos and houses come fully equipped with high quality, environmentally-friendly products and appliances. As a seller or home owner, when it is time to replace old appliances, etc, consider replacements like low flow faucets and energy efficient dual flush toilets, which cut down on water consumption and the water bill.
Volatile organic compounds (VOC) are found in traditional carpeting and paints in your home. VOC’s are toxic and can cause allergic reactions in adults and kids alike. Consider replacing old carpets and paints with low or no (VOC) products.
4. The benefit of the above products is not merely in the claims, but the fact they are backed by certification. Look for appliances and products that are carry the international Energy Star label. It means that the manufacturer and the retailer had to pass a ranking system based on the true energy efficiency and safety of each product before an Energy star label is attached to the product.
In closing, as a home owner wanting to make your home more environmentally friendly or a seller deciding to put a sustainable home for sale on the market choose products like ventilation systems, lighting supplies, and paints that are backed by credible certification.
It will give you piece of mine knowing you have created a space that is healthy and safe for you, your family, friends, and the environment. For the seller it is another added value when it comes to advertising your home for sale, and beating out the competition in the real estate game.
To search for sustainable homes for sale click here. |
