GREEN HOMES: Living with Nature

Published by julia | Filed under Miscellaneous, Real Estate, Shout Outs

Mention green homes and chances are average home buyers may get that glassy look of incomprehension in their eyes. But green homes, or environmentally sustainable dwellings, are not just some kind of fad in real estate that will go away in time. As more and more people and organizations become environmentally conscious and responsible, the construction of environmentally-friendly houses and residential communities is definitely one concept that is here to stay.

So what exactly are green homes made of?

For one, green homes boast of having super insulating panels or SIPS. These insulators are mostly made of recycled newspaper and are treated to be insect and fire resistant. Compared with the usual fiberglass, it is found to be much more effective in retaining heat during winter and air conditioning during summer. This would surely translate to a reduction of electric bills to the household.

An evaluation of the structural aspect of green homes will determine that most use timber for frames. This is because timber comes prefabricated from suppliers, translating lesser waste in construction sites compared to the usual wood planks used.

And in Florida, where constant sunshine is expected the whole year through, low-emittance window offer a much more practical option. This type of windows allow natural light in but blocks UV rays, which is responsible for heating up the interiors.

With mortgage and insurance payments becoming a huge problem in all parts of the country, any means for the household to save on energy costs would surely be welcomed. One way of doing this is to have a geothermal heating and cooling system. Though this system may have higher initial cost compared to traditional furnace, it still boasts of having long-term advantage of lowering expenses for heating and cooling the house, using the earth as the natural heat exchanger. And with the energy industry seeing no respite in the prices of natural gas, one can understand the wisdom of having a geothermal heating and cooling system installed.

One other way to beat the Florida heat indoor is to have an attic heat blocker. This superbly efficient insulating roofing material cuts radiant heat by as much as 97%, leading to lesser heat distributed throughout the house. This system necessitates lesser use of air conditioning system, providing the needed savings to homeowners.

With these energy-saving features, it is not hard to imagine the demand for green homes to increase in the near future, especially in areas like Tampa where most homes depend on air-conditioning for indoor comfort. And with demand comes supply, as contractors are starting to see the wisdom of offering these types of houses to discriminating home buyers.

If you have any questions call us for immediate assistance. Be sure to visit us often for up-to-date MLS listings for Tampa Real Estate and Northern Virginia Real Estate.

January 5th, 2008