[Greenbuilding] [BULK] Re: Green real estate market

[Lawrence Lile]

Steve, 

I'd echo Kieth's Comments ( I usually do)  and add this:
Do the simple stuff first - weatherstripping, efficient lights (convert
incandescent to compact fluorescent, or go all the way and convert
compact fluorescent to T8 electronic ballast fluorescent) put in the
best windows you can afford, put in the most efficient air conditioner
and heat you can afford.  All of these things will pay for themselves
before you sell your home.  

Insulate the walls beyond code by at least 50% (A home built to minimum
code is the worst building the law will allow) and maximize southern
windows (with overhangs) for a little solar gain. 

I would consider ground source heat pumps, but they are marginal cost
savers in the cases I have modeled.  Some people really love them, they
last a long time, are the most efficient mechanical AC, and beat
electric heat on energy cost.  They don't beat gas heat in many areas,
IMHO, depending on your utility costs. Spend your money on an SEER 15 or
17 air conditioner and pocket the savings.  Around here, they add about
$5000 to the cost of the HVAC, or about double. Spend the money cleaning
out the old ductwork and putting in a superduper air filter to zap
allergens.

New home buyers buy glitz.  A shiny brass ceiling fan in the living room
will, sadly, sell your home faster than a raft of energy saving measures
behind the walls.  However, save your utility bills.  Hand the realtor a
spreadsheet showing the bills for the last two years.  Dare the next
door neighbor to do the same - he won't!  Specifically ask the realtor
to give a copy to the client, and ask him to ask other realtors for one
- and if they won't disclose the utility bills, walk away! That might be
the thing that sells your home, you never know! 

Avoid toxic paints, use nontoxic Zero VOC Green paints, that's a no-cost
Green measure.  

If you can get any third party Green certification (there are local
programs that are less expensive than LEED-H) then go for it, but don't
expect homebuyers to even know what it means.  You are doing this for
yourself, mostly (and the planet!).  Enjoy your house for a long time
and don't worry about resale value, that's my motto. 

 
 
Lawrence Lile, P.E., LEED AP



Steve Tripp wrote:
> I'm new to the list and have done some searching through the archives,
but
> have not seen a discussion regarding resale value of green homes.
>
> My wife and I are remodeling and hope to make our home as weather
tight as
> possible as well as use recycled and sustainable materials wherever
> possible.  We do not plan on selling the house anytime soon, but I
wanted to
> find out if our planned improvements would increase the market value.
I was
> told that geothermal heating-cooling systems will add 1/4 of its cost
to the
> value of the house and that quality weather tight windows and doors
will not
> add enough to the value of a home to make them worthwhile.
>
> We still plan to make the changes we want, but now am wondering what
kind of
> uphill battle I may have with the bank if I cannot show that we are
adding
> more to the value of the home.
>
> Do green homes sell?
>
> Thanks in advance for any insight you may provide.
> Steve Tripp
>
>   

-- 
Keith Winston
Earth Sun Energy Systems
Hyattsville, MD 20781
301-980-6325
send me mail at 
keith at the company below
www.EarthSunEnergy.com


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