The Quick Green Blog - An Appraiser View

Let's see.  Green is: 

• Too Expensive? 
• Too Ugly?? 

Not today!  High-performance homes (including Energy Star and GreenBuilt) are available in traditional styles and in all price ranges.  You need to see this for yourself, and the Parade of Homes is the perfect opportunity!  This year's Parade is on the first 3 weekends of October.

Things to look for (besides price, location, and style):

• HERS Rating - The Home Energy Rating System score tells you how energy efficient the home is.  Lower is better - 100 is a traditionally-built home, while an Energy Star certified home must be 85 or lower.
• Certification - A home may have "green features", but not qualify for an independent certification.
  • Energy Star requires third-party verification.  Insulation, crawl space, windows and more must meet stringent requirements, and a blower test has been conducted to determine the HERS rating.
  • GreenBuilt requires third-party verification, similar to Energy Star, but includes thorough review of multiple systems in the home (water, energy, indoor environment, etc.)

Some features to check out are radiant barriers, foam insulation, tankless heaters, low-e windows, low-VOC paints, and local materials.  Check out building practices such as waste reduction, site preparation, and advanced framing materials and techniques.

Finally, ask about Energy-Efficient Mortgages and tax credits.  It's worth your while - save money on your purchase, at the same time you cut your monthly energy expenses!