Homeowner Benefits

Green-build homeowners receive a multitude of benefits. A key asset to green building is energy efficiency. Green-built homes use materials such as energy-efficient windows, which are designed to keep out excess heat in summer and bring in heat in the winter, reducing seasonal heating and cooling bills. Similarly, green homes are equipped with efficient appliances and plumbing as well, requiring less power and water usage. Better indoor air quality is another positive side effect — low VOC paints, elimination of mold potential, and installation of radon-mitigation systems allow for cleaner air throughout the home and its neighboring environment.

Environmental Benefits

When a green building is constructed, it is designed to minimize any changes to the ecosystem, while protecting the environment’s biodiversity. Green homes feature a number of filtration systems that clean both the air and water coming into and out of the home. These homes are constructed using recycled materials and are also designed to minimize waste from the home, including using recycled water from the home to irrigate the surrounding landscape. The efficiency of green homes allows them to make better use of less natural resources, helping to conserve existing resources. Over time, these resources are able to be restored to higher levels.

Economic Benefits

Green homes are designed to run supplemented by alternative energy sources, which puts less demand on the general power grid and other utility providers. The overhead to run a green home is much reduced compared to a non-green home because utility bills are lower and water bills are reduced. An aspect of a green home’s design is to improve the productivity of its occupants, and more productive individuals ar that much more of a benefit to the economy. Green building aids job growth as demand for green homes increases, and green homes themselves become valuable assets as they become increasingly more desirable to home buyers.

Builder Benefits

Green homes sell at a higher price with sustainable components. Because green homes are known to outperform traditional homes based on their lower utility and maintenance costs, they are increasingly more appealing in the home market and demand only continues to grow. Some studies show that investing in green buildings is 10 times more profitable than standard homes. For example, $50,000 invested in green building design can return $500,000 over 20 years. In the building economy,  demand for green homes is growing, and there will be a continued desire for these homes into the future.

Social Benefits

Green building offers countless social benefits. Green-build homes are designed to enhance the health, comfort, and overall quality of life of those living within by using natural and recycled materials, as well as reducing the amount of harmful chemicals within. For example, low VOC paints are used in green homes as an alternative to standard paints, which can emit low-level toxins for years after application. These, along with air filtration and radon-mitigation systems improve indoor air quality as well. The energy-efficient materials and supplies used in the home minimize the strain on local utility providers.