Location, location, location. That’s the mantra I grew up with having a mom in real estate. It still rings true, even in this tumultuous economy. Beyond location, what about ‘green’ homes? Does having green features increase the value of your home? Does it help your home to sell faster?

This week on More Hip Than Hippie, Dori and I interview Scott Wolf, an eco-broker and certified LEED Accredited Professional (and the smiling dude in the picture). Scott shares practical tips and advice on everything from defining a ‘green’ home to preparing and marketing your green home if you’re getting ready to sell. He even gives tips on how to KNOW you’re buying a truly green home.

I really enjoyed our conversation with Scott. He suggests looking at your home holistically. By this he means recognizing that your home is a system. And there are three areas to examine within this system:

1. Resources – natural resources consumed and required such as water and power.
2. Health – indoor and outdoor as related to chemicals, pollution, etc.
3. Environmental  – use of recycled materials, reducing landfill, repurposing, etc

So, what are a few tips to create a ‘green’ home if you don’t have the budget for solar panels or other high budget improvements?

• 1. Choose no or low VOC paints (VOC = volatile organic compound. They’re bad for you)
• 2. Opt for Xeriscaping. This is landscaping with native plants that minimize water use. Also includes the use of drip irrigation and working with beneficial insects for natural pest control
• 3. Water Conservation. Simple improvements such as installing low flow showerheads, toilet tank banks, aerators, and using a timer for your watering system. Installing a grey water system to reuse water from your clothes washer, etc if your local government allows.
• 4. Weatherproofing your home. Seal drafts around doors, windows and plumbing. Install shades where appropriate to reduce heat during the warm months and opt for multi layer drapes to allow the sun to filter through for passive heating during the cold months (close drapes at night to keep heat from escaping during the winter). Efficient insulation in your homes walls and attic is another low budget way to weatherproof your home.
• 5. Install an energy star water heater.

These are just a few tips to help green up your home. If you’re selling, be sure to keep a record of what improvements you have made, labels (such as that off of the water heater, paint cans or updated HVAC system) and copies of utility bills to show the effectiveness of the improvements. Create a scrapbook for viewing by realtors and prospective buyers. My second mantra? Marketing, marketing, marketing. If your house has it – flaunt it.

For more tips and the inside scoop on how having a green home can help or hinder you during this current housing climate, listen to the full show. It’s around 40 minutes. I know you all have a lot to say on this subject, so let it rip. What are other suggestions you have for creating a ‘green’ home? Oh, and if you want to find an eco-broker in your area, check out ecobroker.org.  Listen to the show here!

Tags: eco broker, energy conservation, green building, green homes, LEED, real estate, selling your green home

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 20th, 2009 at 1:45 pm and is filed under Green Living. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.