| The housing market may be presently having a rough | | | | 10. It makes use of structural panel systems and |
| time, but there are still many people looking to buy a | | | | eco-roofing systems. |
| new home. Whether you are purchasing a house for | | | | 11. It should have deciduous trees growing on the |
| the first time or a seasoned homebuyer, it is | | | | south and west parts of the house. |
| important to remember that buying a house is one of | | | | 12. The home should "breathe" naturally, built with |
| the biggest decisions in your life. The size, location | | | | sustainable materials like adobe, straw-bale, rammed |
| and style of your house, as well as what you plan to | | | | earth or insulated concrete forms. |
| do create a huge impact on your life. | | | | 13. Native, drought-tolerant landscaping and |
| With this in mind, consider the benefits of an | | | | rain-catchment or gray water system |
| eco-friendly home features as you go house hunting. | | | | 14. A green home is smaller compared to |
| Eco-friendly homes help protect nature, but also less | | | | conventional homes. Since this requires few |
| expensive. The benefits of buying a green-featured | | | | construction materials, it leaves less damage on the |
| home includes reduction in pollution, greater energy | | | | environment. |
| efficiency, healthier air indoors, preservation of natural | | | | When looking for a nature friendly home, bear in mind |
| resources such as native habitats and water and | | | | that these homes are designed, constructed and |
| lower maintenance costs. These homes also maintain | | | | operated using resources that has a lesser negative |
| their value even in the current slow real estate | | | | effect to nature. You can verify whether the home |
| market, appraising up to fifteen percent more than | | | | has been certified through one of the many nature |
| conventional homes. | | | | building programs, which includes Austin Energy's |
| How do you find out if the home you are | | | | Green Building Program, National Association of Home |
| contemplating to buy has green features? You would | | | | Builders Green Building Program. There are also some |
| know if a home has eco-friendly features if it has the | | | | programs for new and existing homes through |
| following: | | | | Energy Star, a joint program by the Department of |
| 1. It should have a U.S. Green Building Council's LEED | | | | Energy and the Environment Protection Agency. |
| certified ratings. | | | | These groups provide certain standards for |
| 2. Possess an air quality enhancing features | | | | certification. They can recommend on how to create |
| 3. Low emissivity and double paned windows | | | | a more energy-efficient home. |
| 4. Appliances that are energy efficient such as | | | | You may also have a third-party home energy rater |
| Energy Star appliances | | | | to check out the energy features of a home. There |
| 5. Makes use of solar power or natural lighting from | | | | are several recommendations on the sites of Energy |
| the sun | | | | Star, Austin Energy and the National Association of |
| 6. Native, drought-tolerant landscaping | | | | Home Builders green programs. |
| 7. On-demand hot water system and water saving | | | | It is also important to ask your real estate agent |
| showerheads | | | | how much they understand about eco-friendly |
| 8. Low-flow toilets | | | | homes, environmental issues and healthy house |
| 9. t uses paints, adhesives and stains with low or | | | | building practices. He or she should be able to help in |
| zero volatile organic compounds to improve indoor air | | | | your search for the nature friendly home of your |
| quality. | | | | dreams. |