Now that you’ve made the commitment to live in a green home, it’s time to start looking in the marketplace. This applies both to people who are interested in buying homes and those who are looking to rent green homes. With this in mind, what are the characteristics and features that you should be considering when shopping around for a green home? Even before you start thinking about green modifications, you’ll probably want a home that is already optimized for green living.

Building Materials

Have the builders made use of eco-friendly building materials? A great deal of thought should go into using non-toxic building materials, paints, sealants, and furnishings. This is for health reasons. It is also important to think about the environmental impact of the materials used to build a home. For example, using salvaged or repurposed materials is a much better choice than using brand new materials. Where wood-based features are concerned, rapidly renewable sources like bamboo are ideal.

Green Design

A green home is an efficient home. Has the house, apartment or townhouse been designed in such a way as to minimize the need for air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? Large windows that invite natural lighting and airflow are great for reducing the need for electricity. At the same time, are these windows properly shaded, ideally with natural elements like trees, to block hot summer heat? It is also ideal if the roof is a light color, because this reduces heat absorption during the summer as well.

Green Spaces and Efficient Size

Who wants to live in a concrete jungle? Great landscaping can go a long way in creating a green home as well, so you’ll want to look for homes that have a lot of natural green space. The inclusion of plants, trees, and other elements can greatly improve air quality and provide shade during the summer. It is also desirable for the plants to have minimal water needs as to reduce the overall needs of the yard for watering.

Location, Size and Orientation

The first rule of real estate is location and green homes are no exception. Naturally, green homes should not be built in areas that are environmentally sensitive. There are certain regions that provide unique ecosystems for certain species and these mustn’t be disturbed. It is also important that green homes not be built on prime farmland and areas that may be better utilized for other purposes. At the same time, the location should be close enough to major amenities as to reduce the daily commute to work and minimize the need to drive anywhere to get basic needs like groceries, schools, and stores. Proximity to public transit is also important.

In order to reduce the need for natural resources and to minimize environmental impact, it is important to live in a green home that is just large enough to suit your needs. A larger home requires more heating, more lighting, and more resources. This is wasteful. Also, homes that face south or west are more prone to overheating in the summer, so consider the orientation of the home as well.

Efficiency with Resources

Everything about a green home should be designed in such a way to be as sustainable and efficient as possible. Windows and doors should form very tight seals. This prevents heat loss in the winter. All of the appliances and fixtures should adhere to the ENERGY STAR standard too, being as energy-efficient as possible. In like manner, low-flow toilets are more water-efficient. Ideally, a green home can generate all or a portion of its energy requirements through roof-mounted solar panels and other innovations.

A Holistic Approach to Green Home

See the forest for the trees, but also see the trees as part of the forest. When looking to buy or rent a green home, take all of the elements described in this article into consideration.