Green Building and the Tree-Hugging Real Estate Market
Article by Elaine VonCannon
Green building is not a new concept, nor is it only for hippies and anarchists. Green building is a new wave of responsible, environmentally conscious and energy-efficient people coming together to create a healthier and less toxic world for our children and grandchildren. According to the Rick Fedrizzi, President and CEO of the U.S. Green Building Council the Green building construction market has grown from in 2000 to billion dollars as of the close of 2004. There are many ways to build green, but first lets discuss some of the reasons why you want to build green.
Why Does Green Building Matter?
According to the Global Green USA website http://www.globalgreen.org building, construction, demolition and the manufacturing of building materials ?contribute significantly to environmental problems?. In the United States building account for thirty-six percent of the total energy use, sixty-five percent of electricity consumption, thirty percent of greenhouse gas emissions, thirty percent of raw materials use, thirty percent of waste output (annually 136 tons), and twelve percent of potable water consumption. Global Green also estimates that a 1700 square foot home uses one acre of forest. On top of this, the buildings being constructed in our country are not healthy and thirty percent of the buildings have poor air quality, which according to studies by the US Army and the American Medical Association cost US companies approximately billion in productivity losses annually. The Global Green USA web site states, ?By the year 2010, another 38 million buildings are expected to be constructed in the US, bringing our country?s total to over 100 million. The challenge is to build those new buildings, and renovate the older ones, in ways that reverse these unhealthy trends. Fortunately, there are ways we ? as consumers, designers, builders and product manufacturers ? can respond to this challenge. By building green, we can assist in preserving natural habitats, watersheds, and ecosystems, protect air and water quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and solid waste, all while conserving natural resources and creating healthier indoor and outdoor environments.?
How Can Green Building Benefit Me?
Green building positively impacts both economics and public health. Homes and commercial buildings have lower operating expenses, material durability increases so maintenance and repair decreases, and the use of non-toxic materials can protect your employees or the whole family, especially children, from respiratory and other diseases. Green building also builds community by helping homes and other structures to blend and help the environment rather than disturb it.
?What are Green Building Materials?
According to GreenBuilder.com Green building materials are separated into five basic categories, each with a different functional purpose. The first category of materials saves energy and consists of products like high quality insulation and windows, energy efficient appliances and water or solar powered electrical systems. The second category is made up of products that conserve water such as dual-flush toilets, landscaping strategies, and gray water systems. The third category creates a healthy indoor environment with materials such as non-toxic paints, caulks and adhesives, Green Label carpets, ventilation equipment, air filters and Carbon Monoxide sensors. The fourth category is products and materials that protect and conserve natural resources such as recycled materials like carpet, tile or wallboard, bamboo flooring, natural linoleum, wood from sustainable managed forests and salvaged sinks and bricks. Last, but not least, the fifth category reduces the negative impact of commercial buildings on the community at large through use of materials like green roofs, cisterns, alternative modes of transportation, natural termite barriers, native vegetation and ozone friendly materials.
Isn?t Green Building More Expensive?
It is a myth that Green building is more expensive. Green building simply takes the bigger picture into account, not just the present moment. Peter Mosca, writer for Realty Times, states in his article Green Building Reaches the Masses that ?Savvy builders are jumping on the bandwagon, realizing that green building is no longer about being environmentally friendly, but is more about successfully generating profits by meeting the needs of today?s energy conscious consumer.? ?In fact,? continues Mosca, ?in a recent episode of ABC?s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, the show built a zero-energy house, a home that conserved energy so well it was able to sell energy back to the power grid.? Green building is both economically and financially feasible. It simply calls for future planning and understanding the long-term benefits building green can provide for you and your community.
Green building is the wave of the future. All around the world people are beginning to realize the importance of conservation, non-toxic materials and working in cooperation with the environment. Whether you are relocating, retiring or buying your first home green building is an option everyone can consider. For more information on real estate, market trends, green building or retiring and relocating to Virginia visit http://www.voncannonrealestate.com
About the Author
Elaine VonCannon is a REALTOR with RE/Max Capital in Williamsburg, Virginia, and she specializes in retirement and relocation in the Williamsburg area. She is an Accredited Buyer?s Representative as well as a Senior Real Estate Specialist. Elaine VonCannon also works with real estate investors and home sellers. Learn more about real estate at http://www.voncannonrealestate.com.
Source: http://thegreenenergy4home.com/2011/09/11/green-building-and-the-tree-hugging-real-estate-market/
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