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Buyers Demand Some Green Building Features
By Jeanette Joy Fisher
Spec builders focus more on
filling new home buyer's demand for green building
features. Going green no longer means geodesic domes or
strange-looking houses, owned by staunch
environmentalists. Green has become more and more
mainstream over the past several decades, until a
sizable number of new homes contain at least some green
features.
Home Buyers Demand Energy
Efficiency
The increase in green building techniques is driven in
large part by home buyer demand, which in turn has been
driven by the ever-increasing cost of energy. The more
it costs to heat and cool a home, the higher the demand
for ways to lower those energy costs. The increased
demand for green building will continue to bring more
and more contractors into the field to fill the need.
It's a cycle that's likely to
continue to escalate, which is good for everyone
concerned, and the planet as a whole. In fact, many
economists are predicting that eventually the
overwhelming demand for green homes by consumers will
translate into a total shift in that direction.
Relatively easy, but cost
effective green techniques include such things as
wrapping ventilation systems, using Energy Star
certified appliances, and using low-flow showerheads and
low-flush toilets. All of those measures can
significantly increase the efficiency of a green home
and save thousands of dollars over the years in reduced
heating, cooling, and water consumption.
Framing with Green
Even something as seemingly insignificant as using
lumber that has been certified as coming from
sustainable forests by the Forest Stewardship Council
contributes to the green revolution in building. The
same is true with using 2x6 studs in outer walls, which
serves two purposes: allowing builders to use less
lumber by spacing studs farther apart and to use thicker
insulation between the studs.
Although FSC-certified lumber is
still a bit hard to get and costs about 20 to 30 percent
more than standard lumber, the additional cost only
translates to a few thousand dollars, which is often
negligible, considering the cost of most new
construction today. However, as more forests become FSC
compliant, the cost of that lumber should decrease.
Nationwide Expansion from West
The green revolution isn't just on the West Coast or
other trendy areas. The demand for green homes can be
seen nationwide. In fact, there are a number of builders
across the country that have seen their entire
construction business shift to green homes. A large part
of that increased demand has been generated by increased
awareness by the general public about the various
concepts of green building.
For instance, when consumers hear that they can heat and
cool a new 3,000 square-foot home for less than $125 a
month, that gets them excited about the possibilities.
In the very near future, as more and more consumers
become familiar with the various concepts of green
building, that trend is likely to escalate
exponentially, and as energy costs continue to rise,
getting customers to incorporate green building
techniques and technology into their new construction
projects will become an increasingly easier upgrade to
sell.
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Copyright © 2006 Jeanette J.
Fisher
