According to a report released by the US Green Building Council (USGBC), green, LEED-certified homes have grown by 19% on America’s housing market since 2017. This spike in preference for eco-friendly homes is undoubtedly due to increasing sustainability concerns. However, there are numerous things you should know before ditching your current house for a green alternative. If you want to learn more about what to consider before purchasing a green home, keep reading!
1. Cost
Cost is, without doubt, the first thing to think about when considering purchasing a green home. These houses are more expensive than their standard new construction counterparts. Also, there are very few penny-pinching opportunities you can exploit when buying a green home. Therefore, it is best to be financially stable enough to invest in one. However, the higher upfront costs of getting a green home should not discourage you from making this investment since you will ultimately save money in the long run. Therefore, it is best to consider taking a mortgage to help you afford your new green home. For this, you can obtain a free online mortgage quote after inputting a few pieces of information to receive an accurate breakdown of the costs and interest rates available to you.
2. Features with the most impact
There are many innovative technologies and features you will come across when searching for green homes. However, many experts recommend selecting houses with the most impact to enjoy the maximum benefits of an eco-friendly home. For example, heating and cooling are responsible for more than half of the energy use in the average US home. Consequently, a house with a highly efficient cooling and heating system is worth considering over one with eco-friendly features that have little impact on overall energy efficiency and utility costs.
3. Tax incentives
Green tax credits may be available to you if you are building an energy-friendly home. These tax credits are applied when you install certain energy-efficient products like appliances. Consequently, it is prudent to learn more about the various rebates, credits, and savings you can enjoy based on where you reside. For example, you may qualify for the Solar Investment Tax Credit if your home has solar panels or uses solar energy storage systems (like the Tesla Powerwall). This tax credit equals up to 26% of your equipment and installation costs throughout 2022, with no limit on credit size.
4. Multifunctional layout
If your home is large with numerous eco-friendly features, this sort of defeats your efforts at going green. This reality is because you will need more energy to light and heat your home if it has a lot of square footage. There are numerous homes with many unused rooms; so, it is best to ask yourself if you need the extra space before purchasing. Also, you can opt for houses with a well-designed layout and multifunctional rooms so you can get away with smaller square footage without feeling confined. A smart and efficient floor plan combined with green home technology is more effective at saving the planet than offsetting the energy use of a large house, so keep this in mind.
