Green Property Developers Make Higher Profits

Today, land developers are turning to environmentally friendly methods to keep construction costs down and still provide quality construction.. This technique is referred to as conservation land development. Conservation land development is a combination of developing the land while conserving and protecting natural resources yet still generating revenues. Based upon the increase of environmental awareness in the past decade, land development is changing. There are cost saving methods that can be used in land development that still allow for building affordable environmentally friends properties.

A few suggestions on ways to achieve environmental friendly properties are as follows:

Cleaning and Grading

Developers are challenged today with rising costs to clear and dispose of debris. One way to reduce landscaping costs is to preserve as much of the natural area of the land as possible. Local ordinances were created to make more functional and attractive communities. However by doing this, community regulations sometimes create environmental problems. An example is strict limitations on street slopes, driveways and finished lots with limited options to clear and regrade parcels. One way to preserve natural areas is to find ways to design and build properties on slopes with steep grades. It is recommended to follow the natural contours of the land as much as possible. Your architect or engineer will recommend conservation methods for your particular project. For instance, in home development, minimizing the disturbance of the land is the best solution while combing with other approaches such as clustering. By using the clustering technique, you get higher density in a smaller area of the parcel of land. The rest of the site can be left in its natural state. Sometimes it can be more productive to dedicate uncleared land to be used as a park or a permanent open space. Grading can contribute to runoff on a site. Following simple practices to reduce runoff such as having water flow across grass or natural areas is an alternative option. Again this is where your development teams' expertise comes into play.

Storm Water Management:

Today developers need to be concerned with the quality of water leaving a site as well as how to get the water off the site without causing downstream flooding. There are several cost effective approaches to developing land that limit storm water runoff and reduce pollutants. The first step is to minimize the amount of the runoff area. This can be done by eliminating sidewalks on one or both sides of streets, using non-paved driveways, running roof drains to natural swales or grassy areas and making sure that the width of streets are minimized. However, sometimes communities have ordinances that require excessively wide streets. You may be able to negotiate changes.

Waste Management:

Using alternative methods other than conventional sewer or on site disposals is recommended whenever possible. Developers should balance their decisions against buyers' demand and needs. The other benefits to land conservation are you may receive industry or public recognition for your conservation efforts which gives you increased market exposure. Land conservation and natural preservation are influencing the way properties are being developed today more than ever. Finding innovative methods of land conservation is extremely important to the development process.

The Green Advantage for Property Management Professionals

The current real estate market can be tough and property managers are experiencing more vacancies, dropping rent prices, and difficulty finding qualified applicants. It is increasingly important to market yourself with a competitive advantage and going green may just do the trick.

Green Your Properties...Green Your Marketing

1) Highlight the Savings
If other rental homes are marketing their property for the same price in rent, then you can emphasize the savings a resident will accrue due to lower utility charges because you've invested in environmentally friendly appliances, light bulbs, and fixtures.

2) Made in the U.S.A.
The Home Performance Resource Center states that most sealants, caulking, windows, and HVAC systems being used today in home energy retrofits are manufactured in the United States. You can go green by purchasing materials made in the U.S. because it lowers the transportation fuel and energy spent importing goods internationally.

3) Breathe in the Fresh Air
Most rental units need to be repainted from time to time and investing in no or low-VOC paints and sealants is a great opportunity for you to market yourself as green. Advertise the fact that you care about creating an environmentally friendly and clean air habitat for your residents and their families. Parents and pet owners may be particularly attracted to a listing that boasts of having a lower toxicity.

4) Non-Toxic Matters
Advertise the fact that you do not use toxic chemicals as pest control either inside the residence or outside in the yard. Elderly people, responsible moms, and environmentally conscious individuals alike will gravitate to a safer environment for their home.

5) Children Are Receptive to Green Messages
Kids today are inundated with frightening messages of global warming and will be interested in learning what environmentally friendly measures their parents have made by reducing their costly resources in an energy efficient home. This advantage in the rental market is priceless.

6) Showcase Your Transit
If your rental properties are located near public transportation, market this attribute! Provide residents with a bus schedule or a biking map or show how close certain amenities are so that they can cut their gasoline costs and go green.

With your marketing campaign boasting some of your property's green advantages, you will be filling vacancies faster and retaining qualified residents for longer. Once you green your properties, start working on greening your management office, and advertise the improvements each step of the way.

Green Your Office...Save Money
Property managers cut costs and go green by running a paperless office and leveraging property management software. They can use email to send owners statements and collect rent online.

1) Invest in Web-Based Property Management Software
Efficient business operations and good accounting are critical to running a profitable business. By using web-based property management software you can securely store all your files in one place and access them remotely for a 24-7 management approach.

2) Accept Online Payments
Eliminate the rent check and have payments deposited directly into your banking account. Go green by managing your accounts online and eliminate costly trips to the bank.

3) Run a Paperless Office
Using less paper at your property management office will help save you money and the environment. Paper, ink, and file storage are expensive but remember you also have to pay an employee to do the work, and that adds up! Try and eliminate the paper trail by using property management software to run reports and use email to issue monthly statements.

Marketing is very important and a few dollars spent in green property management can go a long way to make it easier for properties to stand out from the crowd.

Is Your Property Green?

Everyone is talking about "green", and you are probably inspired to "green" your property to follow the latest trend in the market. Making your property "green" is good for the value of your property due to the increasing drive towards this direction, and even if it is not for value adding, making your property "green" is also a good investment for your own health and well-being.

So, how do you "green" your home? Your home may already be 20 years old, and you are not going to restructure the whole house, more so if your house is actually an apartment. You cannot simply tear down the walls or anything, as it will affect the whole block of apartment. What can you do?

Landscaping

We are not just talking about having a beautiful garden or putting a lot of potted plants around your balcony. We are talking about the sprinkler systems. You may wish to turn them on if the sprinklers are in your garden, so that you may check for any over sprays. Apartments have no problem about this because you are probably watering your plants manually. However, for sprinklers, you should replace the older technology sprinkler heads with water conserving sprinkler heads. If you can, get one with a timer and a weather sensor. That way, your sprinkler will not need to activate itself when it is raining.

Paints

You will want to ensure that the paint you use has low chemical emissions, especially for VOCs and formaldehyde. Long term exposure to VOCs and formaldehyde potentially cause cancer and leukemia. Most paint manufacturers now may have manufactured paints without VOCs now, but you cannot be too sure about paints in your older home. Also, if you are considering repainting, get a paint which includes anti-bacterial and anti-fungi properties. These are more for your health consideration, because anti-bacterial and anti-fungi will help to avoid unnecessary health problems for your household.

Flooring

There are several considerations when it comes to the floors. If you have marble floors or whatever hard flooring, there is lesser problems for you. However, if your flooring is carpeted, most of the time you might need to replace your carpet with an eco-friendly alternative. In the market, there are carpets made from recycled plastic bottles, with lesser gas emissions and cost about the same as your typical carpet. You may also replace your typical carpet pad with a hypoallergenic soy carpet pad for that extra "green" to your flooring.

Electrical Appliances

A lot has been said about the new regulations for electrical appliances, and manufacturers are working hard to obtain the Energy Star labels for their products. Aside from the label, do also check the age and who the manufacturer is, especially for your refrigerator, washing machine, dishwasher and dryer. Chances are, these electrical appliances are eating up your electricity and footing you an expensive bill due to their age. If you can only afford to change a few of the appliances at home, save enough to start with these few basic ones, starting from your refrigerator, washing machine and dishwasher. Once you start with these three, your electricity bill would have become so much lesser and you will be able to save your cash for the others. Do remember that any appliance which requires heat such as iron and your water heater are the appliance which will swallow a lot of electricity. Any older appliance will also be more dangerous for the fire safety of your home. Just take the chance to replace the older appliances to minimize the possibility of fire hazard.

Lighting

Have you replaced your light bulbs with eco-friendly ones? There are a lot of new light bulbs now which consumes less electricity. It may also be the use of lovely LED lights which can be rather decorative and inexpensive, to replace those heavy-duty outdoor lighting that you had used in the past. For fluorescent tubes, look at the T level on the tube. If the tube T level says T10 or T12, take the initiative to change these to T5 to T8 instead. You will get the same light output, with 70% savings on your electricity bills.

Water

Finally, check the plumbing of your house. Check your water faucets, sinks and shower heads for aerators. You will also need to check the water heater for exposed pipes. Another thing that you need to check is your flush system.

Chances are, older flush systems are using a lot of water and using a single flush system. New flush systems have two systems, one which releases only half of the whole bucket of water when you flush, and another for a full flush. You will save a lot of water for a small investment.

Building Green - Getting Started

Building green is becoming more and more important as our resources dwindle, and we become more aware of the sensitivities to toxins that many people have. With the price of oil and natural gas rising, saving energy is a big concern. The use of green construction in home and business developments has started really taking off, and many people are interested in making their developments environmentally friendly. One survey found that at least fifty percent of all builders should be producing at least some green developments by the year 2010. However, once you've decided to build green, it can be difficult to know where to start. If you're an investor or developer who's interested in learning about the process of green building, here are a few basics to help you get going.

Currently, the building industry is centered on those practices which are least expensive, and easiest to implement. Unfortunately many of these practices aren't all that green. From the use of adhesives and materials that can off-gas, to the creation of structures that waste heat and water, a conventional building makes a big impact on the world around us. You can make buildings greener in a number of different ways, including using natural and non-toxic materials, improving air quality, reducing waste of energy and water, employing renewable energy sources, and reusing materials whenever possible.

For those developing a property, or investing in a development, building green can be especially difficult. Individuals who are building on a small scale can more easily exercise control and find green solutions. Larger developments require advance planning, and there isn't currently a standard process for green building. However, working with experienced professionals can help a lot. For instance, it's often a good idea to work with an energy consultant, who can help you decide how to implement designs that will allow your buildings to conserve energy more effectively. Conservation of energy is one of the biggest concerns related to green building, since most buildings do not make efficient use of power. Correct building orientation to make use of passive solar design, efficient heating and cooling systems, and high grade insulation are just a few of the options you can put in place to make your developments more energy efficient.

You should also try to work with contractors who have prior experience with green building. This will help head off possible problems later on. A contractor who has built green structures in the past will have better familiarity with the methods and materials that are used. They'll also be more willing to work with you, even if the process required to make the building more environmentally friendly means more work on their end.

Since building with environmentally friendly and recyclable materials can be more expensive than conventional building, developers should also make sure they do their research in advance. Look at the cost of materials available, and design your budget appropriately. Be sure to factor in the increase in sale price for green building, and the improvements in energy efficiency when you decide what materials are most cost effective. Materials that are more expensive now will bring savings down the road. Even if you're developing the property for resale, buyers will be aware of this, and may be willing to offer a higher price.

Development often requires the removal of existing structures. Standard practice is to demolish these structures, with the rubble usually being taken to the local landfill. To make the process of getting rid of unwanted structures more environmentally friendly, focus on deconstruction rather than demolition. Deconstruction takes longer, but allows the materials to be reused or resold, and saves on tipping fees. If the structures in question are older, they may have been built from materials which are no longer available, like large dimension old-growth hardwood, which can be reused in other buildings and is superior to softwood dimensional lumber.

Another place where many modern buildings create waste is water use. Very few structures are designed to make efficient use of available water supplies. As more sources of water become polluted, and aquifiers are emptied, water conservation becomes a greater concern. Plan on using features that save water in your new development. These can include installation of ultra-low flow toilets and showers, faucet aerators and high-efficiency showerheads, efficient heating and cooling systems, and use of air-cooled equipment instead of water-cooled. In addition, it may be wise to designate a water efficiency coordinator for large projects.

The nationally accepted benchmark for green buildings is the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Standard. LEED certification provides independent, third party verification that your building project is an environmentally responsible one. Even if you do not choose to get this certification, being familiar with LEED standards can help you make the right choices when building green.

While getting started in green building can be intimidating at first, familiarity with standards and talking to experts in the field can make the process a lot easier. Energy and water conservation are two of the biggest concerns, with use of recycled or recyclable, non-toxic materials, and reduction of landfill use following. With a sound plan and the correct priorities, making your development a green one doesn't have to be hard. Green developments are turning up everywhere, from water-saving condominiums built of recyclable materials where decaying industrial buildings used to sit, to schools and businesses designed to make the best use of energy while providing good air quality. Slowly, green building is becoming mainstream, so now's a great time to get started.

Anthony Seruga and Yolly Bishop of Maverick Real Estate Investments, Inc. work with builders, developers and other players in the commercial real estate industry to acquire and develop properties. They use progressive investment strategies that have proved extremely profitable. In addition to their own deals, they teach both seasoned and inexperienced investors how to be big players in the game. Visit the website for more info.

Recent Home Buyers Tend to Pay More For "Green", Eco-friendly Homes!

"Green", ECO-friendly houses tend to be in raising desire between potential buyers.

A new study demonstrating that new home buyers are willing to pay more for "green" homes. About three from five purchasers say that.

In accordance to PRD Nationwide, 30% of participants stated many would certainly fork out up to $10,000 extra to build or buy a certified green homes.

A substantial quantity of respondents (16%) said that they're as well willing to pay from$10,000 to $20,000 additional to be certain that the next home they build or buy would be ECO-friendly. Some even say they would pay an extra $30,000.

Most people have a small voice inside of them which calls to protect our planet and ensure the environment stays "green".

It really is a question at the moment of "how much" are they willing to pay for having their own environment-friendly home.

The study illustrates that adding ECO-friendly features could help to make the big difference to prospective purchasers, perhaps as much as a perfectly finished kitchen area or restroom could.

"Save your water" preservation has a high ranking as one of the most attractive "green" features in the world. Solar energy is becoming the 'key' element to deploy not only in brand new houses, but in existing homes, too.

An energy-efficient green homes would appeal to most buyers because of long-term savings and there are variety of choices and prices for "green" features.

I would suggest for investors who didn't want to 'overcapitalize' on "being green" when it comes to sale time should look to install low-cost environmentally-friendly additions.

But If you 're looking to keep your home green for a longer time period, ECO-friendly improvements to the home could be the essential components in your new green home.

Green Real Estate Features

As the health of our environment and our own personal wellness become issues of greater importance, the demand for eco-friendly homes continues to rise. Home builders and developers have responded to this rising demand, and are building "green" properties in greater numbers. According to McGraw-Hill Construction, a home must contain at least 3 of the following 5 elements to be considered green: energy efficiency, indoor air quality, resource efficiency, water conservation and site management (site management would refer to a home's exterior use of water resources and electricity).

Buyers can enjoy a multitude of benefits associated with the ownership of eco-friendly properties, not the least of which is significant annual savings on energy bills. Most of all, owners of green properties delight in knowing that they're effectively doing their part to contribute to a healthier environment.

Preserve Precious Resources

In order to conserve electricity, green properties utilize the power of solar energy. Installation of solar panels can provide most or all of the electricity that a home may need. While this solution is relatively expensive, homeowners can easily recover the cost of their initial investment over time by way of savings on their energy bills. Solar water heaters, which are relatively inexpensive to purchase and install, are a great way to heat your home's water without the need for electricity or natural gas. Green property may also include radiant roof barriers and upgraded insulation, which can also greatly reduce your home's consumption of energy. Low-E windows and exterior sunscreens are very effective in lowering the amount of exterior heat that your home absorbs. This heat would otherwise make its way inside, and would cost the homeowner more to keep it cool. If you can keep the heat out, you will use less electricity!

Discover Other Simple Solutions

Other, less expensive ways to "go green" include purchasing high-efficiency HVAC systems and Energy Star appliances. Install digital thermostats with timers to further maximize your HVAC system's energy efficiency. Outside, choose to plant trees and shrubs that require less water. Installing low-flow toilets inside the house is also a great way to conserve water. Buyers will find all of these features and more when they look into purchasing eco-friendly homes. Purchase a green property today, and do your part to contribute to a healthier environment for generations to come.

Eco Property Houses - Houses Go Green!

Eco property development, also known as green property is new real estate trend. This has come into vogue due to climatic changes. Eco friendly properties utilize 'green' construction methods with minimal environmental impact. Many people are looking forward to eco-property as it is safe. People, who are interested in buying eco-property, can approach eco-property dealers. It gives them a chance to advertise eco-property either for sale purpose or buying needs.

Eco-friendly property for-sale -friendly properties has been in existence from quite some time. The trend is fast catching up in India of late. Improvements in technology and reduction in costs owning has made it very easy for everyone to afford an eco-friendly property. The eco-friendly homes have numerous benefits. They can help save energy by using solar power, solar hot water heaters, wind power and wind turbines.

Owing an eco-property helps reduce the strain on energy reserves, reduce pollution to a large extent, besides reducing the cost of housing. It is a known fact that energy resources are becoming scarce day by day. Whether a house has a solar hot water heater or a ground source heat pump, it can affect a properties value and selling potential. Eco friendly homes stand to yield greater results in the long run.

You can easily get eco-friendly building materials, lime plaster, straw bale, cob, hemp, eco-friendly wood products like, FSC timber, bamboo etc. As the products being used are natural, the house will be completely free of any kind of harmful gases. Moreover, it will help save a substantial amount of money too. The demand fro eco-property has stemmed out of the need to meet high standards of energy efficiency and environmental responsibility. The prime focus is on resources such as energy, water and materials.

Going in for eco-property can help reduce the energy bills and offer a healthier living environment. It also plays a significant role in reducing the effect of environmental hazards and ease its effects on human health and environment too. Non usage of toxic materials and products will also improve indoor air quality, and reduce the rate of asthma, allergy and sick building syndrome. These materials are known to be emission-free. Bangalore has become the prime destination for many. The city attracts a huge number of people due to the job opportunities. Building in Bangalore costs a significant amount of money. However, approaching property dealers can help reduce the expenses related to property.

Being Green Can Be Easy

Think Green, Go Green, Act Green, Be Green, Feel, Smell...Green-Green-Green! If you are a building owner, manager or operator how many times have you heard about this 'Green Monster' sweeping across the nation? No, not the outfield wall at Fenway Park, but this green monster of eco-friendly concepts and energy smart ideas for your building.

'Green' topics can be found in magazines, newspapers, websites, talk radio, television commercials, talking heads on CNN/Fox, politicians, the U.S. Government...the whole world is talking green. Saving the environment once meant tossing our old newspapers in the recycle bin, but now building owners are being faced with a much more radical view of what it means to be 'Green'. Property Managers are being pressured by building owners to 'think green'. Building Consultants, like myself are being pressured by property managers to 'think green'. I in turn pressure my vendors to provide 'Green' products...and so on and so on.

Energy costs will continue to rise, oil prices have recently hit the $100 dollar per barrel and the U.S. Government is handing out tax incentives for those who can dramatically cut utilities. Now more than ever has saving the environment also meant saving money. If green building research is on your agenda for 2008, well then you are in luck. In this edition of Mechanical Matters, I will touch ever so briefly on why 'Going Green' is important and share with you several sources of green research that I found helpful when composing this article.

But first I want to share with you a statement read that really sums up why 'Green Building' technology is important to me as a mechanical building consultant. Joanna R. Turpin, with Engineered Systems Magazine said this:

"Manufacturers in all sorts of different industries are advertising their green offerings these days - products that help end-user save energy, lower emissions, reduces wastes, etc. Nowhere does that make more sense than in HVAC industry, where high-efficiency heating, cooling and ventilation projects are in great demand by building owners looking to cut energy cost and lessen their impact on the environment."

I couldn't agree with her more. The rest of her article went into great detail about how 'Green' products and concepts made to a particular facility resulted in tremendous energy savings. I could go into great detail about 'Green' products that are on the market right now, but in this edition I wanted to address the whole 'Green' thing head on. I will leave 'Green' products that I endorse for another edition. For now I want to answer two questions. 1. Why is having a 'Green Building' so important? 2. What is my first step towards a 'Green Building'?

Recently I sat down to watch television with a pen and notepad in my lap. I wanted to jot down every 'Green' advertisement, or 'Green' subliminal message that saw. Wow! I saw energy efficient light bulbs that apparently grow from trees and are picked like apples. Eco-friendly car commercials highlighted the MPG (mile per gallon) ratings in 'Green' across the screen. Learning channels such at HGTV, Discovery, National Geographic have 'Green' related topics airing daily. There is so much 'Green' coming through television that I thought I needed to adjust the color balance. Everyone seems to have great 'Green' ideas for sale, but why?

After wading through all the political bull, I found a very convincing statement on Go Green Initiative's website:

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the world population is expanding at a mind-boggling rate. The world reached 1 billion people in 1800; 2 billion by 1922; and over 6 billion by 2000. It is estimated that the population will swell to over 9 billion by 2050. That means that if the world's natural resources were evenly distributed, people in 2050 will only have 25% of the resources per capita that people in 1950 had. Throwing away items that could be recycled diminishes energy, water and natural resources that could be saved by recycling. To read the rest of this article, please go to gogreeninitiative.org

Ok, so if we don't strive to protect our environment we could potentially consume all of our natural resources...I can buy that. No matter what side of the political fence you sit on, I think we all can agree that recycling and conserving some of our natural resources just makes sense...we should all do our part. BUT recycling and protecting the environment is not a new concept. So why 'Green'? Why now? Second to saving the environment, 'Going Green' has risen in popularity to another 'Green' acronym...MONEY. 'Going Green' is big business. It's no secret anymore. For most business owners its common knowledge that lowering energy consumption positively effects the bottom line. It's also common knowledge that product manufacturer's can now label their products 'Green' and sales will increase while saving our environment.

For the sake of time and political debate, I will stick to 'Green Building' topics and steer clear of 'Green Party Politics'. As Engineered Systems magazine stated, your building's mechanical system consumes the majority of your energy. Unless your building is in the manufacturing industry or a nuclear power plant, chances are your mechanical system is the biggest contributor to your light, gas and water utility bills. To learn more about how HVAC Energy Efficiency, please go to Wikipedia.org and type HVAC. However, to reach perfect 'Green Building' stature, please take heed by one of the most profound statements ever made by a frog: "It's not easy being green." - Kermit the Frog

In order to achieve perfect 'Greendom' you may have to spend a lot of 'Green' to get there. (For the definition of Greendom, please go to my website and click on the glossary. Look for Greendom in the 'G' section). Un-like Kermit, 'Green Building' can be easy, but getting there may be a challenge. Whether you are replacing/updating your mechanical systems, improving sequence of operations, new lighting, building automated controls, low flow toilets or addressing your building's envelope you will discover those 'Green' improvements won't be cheap. However, through precise Energy Audits, building owners can discover how much energy is wasted, and target the areas of improvement that have the greatest return on investment.

You may be saying to your self right about now, "But Jimmy, we didn't budget any building improvements this year...we don't have the capital!" That's why the Energy Audits are so important. Your audit may reveal an area that could be improved and the energy savings alone could finance the project with out any capital. Even if the Energy Audit didn't result in immediate cash flow improvements, you will still have a sound road map to model your building's capital investments for the next 1-5 years. Now do I have your attention? Keep reading.

I work with a lot of engineers, who are a lot smarter than me, and have dedicated the past 20 years of their lives to energy services. The company that I represent is both an Energy Star Partner and U.S. Green Building Council member. Normally when writing these articles I try not to boast about my day job. Unfortunately there are a lot of companies out there that are selling 'Green' performance-contracted energy projects, that have no business doing so. Just because they are in the lighting business, or maybe they sell a great control system, doesn't mean that they have your ENTIRE building's best interest at heart. So, there you have it...I am now forced boast.
;-)

"Any desired improvements to your facility's mechanical systems, lighting, water systems, operations, controls and so forth can be financed by the money saved through energy smart decisions, or green concepts. Through precise energy audits, engineered solutions, strategic planning and skilled craftsmanship, we can improve facility operations, lower energy consumption, improve cash flow, and put money on the bottom line. Unlike those controls companies that push 'Performance Contracting' we can self perform all of the work we propose. We won't push a specific brand of controls or equipment that is proprietary. We take our own energy audits, engineer our own solutions, assign our own project manager, utilize our own man power with no subcontracting. This in turns saves the building owner money and shortens the ROI." - Jimmy V.

I could write an entire book about 'Going Green'. There is a lot of information out there on this topic. In an effort to keep this article under 5,000 words I will close and leave you with a list of websites whose 'Green' commentary I found very valuable in my own research. In these websites listed below you will discover thousands of eco-friendly and energy smart practices. We now know that 'Green' concepts can improve the world we live in and save money. It's a win-win so what are you waiting for? If you are interested in these 'Energy Audits' I have spoken so highly about, call me. Together we can bring your building into the 21st century, improve our environment and put so 'GREEN' back on the bottom line.

Living in a Green Home

By now, everyone has heard never ending stories about how bad our current housing market is. However, there are still plenty of people searching for a home to purchase. So whether you are looking to buy your first home, or have bought more than a few homes in your lifetime already, buying a home is one of the largest financial decisions you can make. Additionally, the size, type, area, and cost of your next house, along with what you decide to do with your new house, can have a very large impact on your environment.
If you are concerned about the environmental footprint you leave behind for your loved ones, while at the same time enjoying a beautiful home, read on and learn about purchasing a "green" home.

Cut your homes energy bills by reducing its energy usage:

Nearly anyone can conduct their own, quick and easy energy inspection of their own home or a prospective home to see what is needed to make the home more green. It is a simple process which begins with simply looking for leaks or drafts in the home. Check common problem areas such as doors, windows, baseboards, and even power outlets. Wherever you find a draft or see sunlight, seal the areas with common items such as spray in insulation or window tape. Your local hardware store can usually assist you if you have unique situations or difficult to fix locations. Also, make an effort to use a full load for household appliances such as your dishwasher, washer, or dryer. Over or undersized loads create unneeded energy waste by inefficient use of the appliance's motors.

Purchase an energy efficient home:

If you are looking to purchase a home, you can choose to have your Realtor search for "green" homes. Modern home builders are constructing "green" properties that come with upgraded insulation, energy saving blinds and windows, along with appliances that are designed to conserve energy. To find houses like this, consult with your local Realtor. Owning an eco-friendly home in this current marked is a smart choice because the homes are becoming increasingly popular and in demand, and have a better potential to sell quickly and at a better price. Every day, a larger percentage of the population is putting greater emphasis on either saving money, protecting the environment, or both!

Location.

People who live in crowded, dense populations, in general, leave a smaller ecological footprint than people who live in suburbs. This is not necessarily because people from places like New York City are in principal more eco-conscientious than people in suburban areas, but more likely because they tend to live closer to work, shopping, and entertainment than suburbanites. Furthermore, individuals who live in dense populations are generally more likely to use subways, busses, or public transportation to get to their destination than non urban dwellers.

The lesson? Chose the location of your home carefully and pay close consideration to commuting distances, proximity to shopping and your method and options of transportation.

Live Large, while Buying Small.

It's the newest mantra for eco friendly individuals: Small, is really the new big. The smaller your living space, the less heating/cooling, and lighting it will need. Thus, you will have reduced energy usage and utility bills.
With some careful interior design, you can create a tasteful and beautiful living area out of some surprisingly small living spaces.

Don't be afraid to make changes:

Don't expect to find the perfect home when you are shopping for any home, let alone an eco-friendly home. Whatever home you purchase, you will likely want to make some basic changes to make it more aesthetically pleasing for you and your tastes and needs. A fresh coat of low VOC paint in your favorite color is easy and affordable. However, ripping up the old, leaky, rusty, lead leaking plumbing is a much bigger task, but something to consider depending on the house's needs. These are important things that you should consider when purchasing a home. An experienced Realtor can assist you with some of these considerations.

Recycle:

When you are looking for your next home, don't rule out a home just because of an out of style kitchen or bathroom. Typically, these are two of the rooms in a home that will get you your best return for your renovating dollar. Assuming you don't have to gut the place and change the structure of the rooms to get something that will make you happy, you can perform a modest remodel based you your ecological principals and obtain a greener, more efficient home which suits your style and needs, and likely increase your home's worth and resale value when it is time to upgrade to your next home.

The importance of Shade:

While some people want trees close by for hugging, others look at trees for their climate control abilities. The foliage that comes with your new home can influence your home's energy usage. In the summer, a trees leafy branches will block the sun and help keep your home cooler and use less energy. Conversely, in the winter, when the leaves fall, the bare branches let in more sunlight and in turn heat your home, resulting in cost savings to you.

More on the Outdoors:

A large yard with a lush green lawn maybe what you always wanted growing up, but remember, the lawn will use up a significant amount of water and need the appropriate amount of upkeep . A smaller yard will use less water, require less upkeep, and give you more time to enjoy your home!
Good luck and happy home hunting!

The Rise of the Green Home Loan Market

Introduction

As Green issues increasingly play on people's mind the desire to renovate defunct properties or build eco-friendly properties is growing. Mortgage lenders, who typically steered away from such projects, now recognise a growing market and many more are now willing to loan money to fund such projects. This article discusses the rise of the Green Home Loan and the complexities surrounding it.

Green Mortgages

Only a handful of specialist lenders are offering green home loans. These can either be loans that offer environmentally friendly perks, such as free energy savings reports, carbon offsetting and cash back for energy saving home improvements or those that fund large scale renovations of disused buildings and energy efficient new builds.

For larger projects people will still have there hands tied as to where they can go for a loan, but companies such as Ecology are happy to offer loans on smaller projects that other lenders won't offer mortgages on. It will offer loans on log cabins or timber chalets and properties built using traditional materials like straw. It also offers loans to develop rundown houses, unused churches or derelict buildings. In the past the company has been known to fund projects to develop disused lighthouses, chapels, coast houses, water towers and barns.

One of the problems though of going to such companies, is that as they are dealing with niche loans, they will typically charge a higher rate of interest than for those found in traditional mortgages. Another problem is that companies offering green mortgages often find it difficult to carry out surveys or valuations. The lenders also find it difficult to establish whether they could resell the property in the event of payments defaults and subsequent repossession.

Recognising the growth in the market though, other companies like Norwich and Peterborough are now offering their own flavour of niche green mortgages. These companies offer green loans on new and existing homes with higher than average standards of energy efficiency or existing homes that buyers plan to make more environmentally friendly. Norwich and Peterborough's green loans come with free energy rating surveys and perks such as cash back that can be used to improve the energy efficiency of the home.

Some lenders also have other sales gimmicks on their green loans, for example Norwich and Peterborough say they plant 40 trees for each green mortgage it sells and other lenders say they will plant one tree for each year you have the mortgage.

As concerns over climate change grow there are expected to be more and more lenders offering green home loans. The government is also launching various incentives for borrowers looking to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.

Brokers warn that homeowners should be wary of just how much of what is offered on green loans is a sales gimmick and how much of it is actually a tangible benefit. Some brokers advise that people looking to take out a loan on a conventional property might want to take out a more competitively priced standard loan and then donate to a carbon offsetting scheme on their own. Unfortunately, if your dream home is unconventional like a log cabin, then you are more or less forced to go to one of the companies like Ecology. Ecology has a range of mortgages, including buy-to-let and interest only deals and for properties that have a commercial element or loans to buy woodland that the buyer wants to preserve. At the time of writing, interest rates for residential mortgages start at 6.15% and for buy-to-let at 6.4%. Ecology also offers discount from its standard rates if people are taking out the home loan to increase the energy efficiency of their property. Borrowers can get a 1% discount if they are doing things like modifying the floor, wall and roof to improve energy efficiency or if they are installing low water-usage appliances.

The way some of the Ecology schemes work is to offer an initial loan amount to fund the start of a project, which is based on the value of the property or planning permission and then, as the building work progresses, to reassess the property's value and to issue further funds accordingly. There is an interesting array of sustainable and recycled materials used in the developments Ecology has funded. These have included material such as timber, straw, cob, rammed earth, reclaimed brick and stone. Some of the properties and even underground or built into the side of hills, while others may incorporate good insulation, triple glazing, efficient boilers and renewable energy systems such as solar panels and rainwater collecting systems.

Most green mortgages are only offered for up to 90% of the property's value, but are offered on part-commercial, part-residential schemes like working farms. It is very rare for a green home loan to be offered at a fixed interest rate, or for holiday and second homes.