Will having a "green" home really save us money?
<let me just say I am all for going green> But I can’t help but wonder….Will they make "green homes" affordable for the common middle class/working class? It might save you money in the long run but solar energy and such are really expensive to get. How will the common working class afford it?
What is your opinion on this matter? Do you agree or disagree? Please be respectful. Thank you = D
http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=18708410>1=35000
eh, I am not really talking about ways to go green. I am sorry I guess I didn’t specify. I ment like if you were to buy a home that was built green. Was fully green. Like in the article I linked below.
New ‘Green’ houses don’t have to be ANY more expensive at all. I build houses and can say 100% that the best and most effective way for a house to be greener is in its initial design. This is where the biggest gains can be made, and where the cost is a big flat ZERO extra.
So at that level if you’re building a new home, it’s WELL worth spending that zero dollars on having a house with a smarter, greener design.
And sure you can spend LOTS of money on expensive ‘green’ materials and equipment for the house, but you can also spend even MORE on expensive UN-green designer materials and equipment as well. The most expensive houses in the World are generally NOT green, they’re expensive because they’re huge and have very expensive materials and equipment.
But to come back to a middle ground, a well designed ($zero) green home will benefit from spending some more on extra insulation, weather sealing, etc. It honestly doesn’t have to be much at all. And a very important thing to remember is this.
In the last 20 years average house sizes have grown by around 35% in places like the US. And even though the builders will tell you otherwise, the extra size does cost a lot more money. Even when you take inflation into account people pay at least $50,000 extra to turn a 1800sqr foot house (the average size 20 years ago) into a 3200sqr foot house (the average size today).
$50k more for extra space that we know we don’t need…
I know I’d much rather get a well designed 1800sqr foot house, spend way less than half of the $50k on green materials and equipment, and end up with a house with tiny (or zero) energy bills and a much smaller mortgage.
Yes it will really save us money, and help this little planet of ours as well.
February 1st, 2010 at 9:39 am
In my humble opinion. Green technology is an unobtainable goal. You will spend some 40+ grand to add some heavy solar panel that have such extreme inefficiencies. The reason coal and natural gas are your top 50+% of energy creation is because it is easy to get, affordable, and abundant. Don’t believe all the misnomers out there about going "green" you will end up just tossing away your money on junk.
References :
February 1st, 2010 at 9:45 am
There are program that are accomplishing that today. A whole neighborhood in New Orleans is building green, the initial investment may be a little more, but the energy savings makes their monthly payments lower than if they had built using traditional methods.
I invested in a solar system and I expect to break even in my 6th year. Part of the problem is too many people don’t buy a house they want to live in, so they aren’t willing to make the long term investments. There are companies now that allow you to lease panels, it can offset your electric usage and usually protects you against rate increases.
There are a variety of things a homeowner can do to an existing home to make it more energy efficient and save money on their utility bill. We also have several new home developments in my area that integrate green technologies, again they may be a little more, but your monthly bills will be lower, so you will likely save money.
References :
February 1st, 2010 at 10:26 am
We learn to crawl before we walk… going Green is the same thing. But it takes effort and knowledge to pull our selves up to take the first steps. CFL replacement is something everyone can do to save 80% over incandescent bulbs. Do some research on "air infiltration mitigation", and beefing up the insulation in your home. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to start saving by using Green ideas and tested home improvements. Passive solar hot water heating for showers and such will save you more money than PV, a good system can be installed for under $3,000 and pay for itself in about 2 years. Upgrading your furnace to 93% efficient or better is also a great way to save money after you spend a little.
Any good Green adviser would tell you that slapping up a bunch of solar panels on your roof is way down the line on ways to spend your money and how to get fantastic returns on those cheaper investments.
There are at least 50 things I could show you on just about any older home that should be done before you even worry about generating your own power. Learn to conserve and save first, then go for the big stuff!
References :
February 1st, 2010 at 10:57 am
im not sure about buying a already "green" house. But i heard the other day that you can buy a book on how to put your own solar panels on instead of spending 5000 bucks to hire someone else too.
References :
February 1st, 2010 at 11:06 am
Yes very much so, you have to figure with proper layout of the house and green modifications which in general are easier and cheaper to add to new houses rather than in a retrofit. The money saved will quickly make up for the money spent and after you have lived there for a while if you decide to sell it would be a major selling point to be able to show a buyer your low low bills. Each thing installed would have a different payback and lifespan but some things such as thermal chimneys, proper orientation, clestory windows, a tight building envelope, gfx drain heat recovery, etc. are no maintenance and last for the life of the house.
Also look at the site below this is a type of mortgage backed by the government where let’s you qualify for a $400,000 loan if you get an energy audit and work with a qualified H.E.R.S. surveyor they will show that let’s say if you spend $100,000 in green mods it will save you enough each month to pay for the difference in a 400k and 500k mortgage and maybe a bit more. Callled an energy efficient mortgage.
References :
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=bldrs_lenders_raters.energy_efficient_mortgage
http://209.85.173.132/search?q=cache:http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/housing/energy_mort/energy-mortgage.htm
February 1st, 2010 at 11:18 am
The point here is – do we actually need a high priced green home to prove that we are really going green? Or can we implement simple ‘go green’ measures and contribute to the environment. Energy and water conservation are some simple things which we can undertake at home and yet make a major difference to the environment. Water is one of the most precious resources on earth and presently the fresh water levels in many parts of the world have dropped significantly. If we all make a conscious effort at home we can save gallons of water every day. Here are some simple tips to follow: http://www.bewaterwise.com/tips01.html
Moreover, these tips are completely inexpensive. What do you think about it?
References :
February 1st, 2010 at 12:03 pm
New ‘Green’ houses don’t have to be ANY more expensive at all. I build houses and can say 100% that the best and most effective way for a house to be greener is in its initial design. This is where the biggest gains can be made, and where the cost is a big flat ZERO extra.
So at that level if you’re building a new home, it’s WELL worth spending that zero dollars on having a house with a smarter, greener design.
And sure you can spend LOTS of money on expensive ‘green’ materials and equipment for the house, but you can also spend even MORE on expensive UN-green designer materials and equipment as well. The most expensive houses in the World are generally NOT green, they’re expensive because they’re huge and have very expensive materials and equipment.
But to come back to a middle ground, a well designed ($zero) green home will benefit from spending some more on extra insulation, weather sealing, etc. It honestly doesn’t have to be much at all. And a very important thing to remember is this.
In the last 20 years average house sizes have grown by around 35% in places like the US. And even though the builders will tell you otherwise, the extra size does cost a lot more money. Even when you take inflation into account people pay at least $50,000 extra to turn a 1800sqr foot house (the average size 20 years ago) into a 3200sqr foot house (the average size today).
$50k more for extra space that we know we don’t need…
I know I’d much rather get a well designed 1800sqr foot house, spend way less than half of the $50k on green materials and equipment, and end up with a house with tiny (or zero) energy bills and a much smaller mortgage.
Yes it will really save us money, and help this little planet of ours as well.
References :
http://www.energised.com.au