What is Green Building?
Green building refers to building practices that are environmentally friendly. Green building concepts include:
1) Preservation of the natural environment;
2) Energy efficiency – heating/cooling system, appliances, lighting, walls, roof, foundation (and solar power);
3) Material selection based on durability, recyclability and the amount of energy used to create the material;
4) Improved indoor air quality;
5) Water conservation inside and out.
We all are stewards of our environment and should make careful decisions about the use of resources in both building and operating our homes. Consider this – 40% of energy used in the US is used to heat and cool our homes and offices, while 30% of energy is used for transportation. New construction homes are almost all more energy efficient than the homes built even just a few years ago. Some new construction homes are more efficient than others, but in general, builders are recognizing the demand for better built, more energy efficient, homes. In fact, Austin now has several neighborhoods, not just individual homes, in which green building concepts are included.
As a real estate agent, my job is to know what to look for in a home, and to weigh the pros and cons of various homes, "green" or not. Even older resale homes can be just as energy efficient as new construction, if they've had efficiency upgrades. What I can do for my clients is pass on the information I've learned over the years. I started learning about green building by attending Austin Energy's Green By Design workshop. Next, I earned my EcoBroker® certification by attending a 3-day course. In 2008, I hosted a monthly "Green Property Tour" for Realtors so we could visit green homes that were on the market. I've also spent time with builders learning what they do to make their homes more energy efficient and green.