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As buyers are wanting more and more energy efficient and green homes, builders and sellers are trying to meet this growing demand. In recent months, the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) has incorporated a green section appears in each report of the MLS, where builders and sellers can list if the home has Energy Star appliances, solar panels, bamboo floors, and rainwater collection systems already exist.
If you are looking to buy a home environment, the downside is that most find the homes that are new construction. This is great if you're wanting a bigger house off anyway, but many buyers do not want new construction green because the trees that are cut and the idea that there are already enough homes on the market right now without building more!
The best advice for those buyers looking for older homes is the MLS search using the new features green options. Finding a home that already has some of the features you want, and then use the money you save to buy now to go to other features that are added at any time or over and over. Earth friendly materials are beginning to make headway in major stores such as Lowe's and Home Depot. So, It's becoming much easier to find these materials. Sure, you will not find items such as reclaimed wood at Lowe's, but will be in specialty stores around the area. So why not have a home you love and make it as green as you want it to be?
For new homes in Charleston that are geared towards energy efficiency, you will find some neighborhoods to choose from. All the houses were built in the rules Summertrees EarthCraft. This area is in Johns Island, and the builder was Brentwood Homes. EarthCraft is a program with guidelines ensuring that the houses to reduce energy by construction of buildings with more force, air sealing, controlled ventilation and duct work more efficiently, HVACs, and vents. Water consumption is also reduced, which reduces utility bills. Finally, the interior and exterior paint is low VOC. These homes also are supposed to have better air quality inside a healthier lifestyle in general for the owners.
Another builder, David Weekley Homes, is also beginning to build green homes. This constructor uses a different program called living environments, which is a national program with three levels of green Ness. David Weekley, new homes are classified in the highest level of requirements, which is the level of diamond. These homes are fifty percent more energy efficient that comparable homes built to standard codes in 2004. And, for comparison, let's compare these homes with Energy Star standards, people are most familiar with. Energy Star requirements are only fifteen percent of the buyers rather than the 2004 standard building codes. Thus, these households David Weekley are significantly better than the Energy Star will also be ensured that your new home using no more than a certain amount of energy for heating and air conditioning. If the buyer believes that the home exceeds this amount, he or she will be reimbursed the difference in cost. Of course, this reimbursement does not take into account the energy expended during that time, but at least manufacturers are trying to keep their homes responsible for the energy. And this is a step in the right direction, I think.
For more information about these builders, check out their websites. And if you want to buy a pre-owned home green it up yourself, check out the MLS with the new search function!
