Eco-friendly home design, personalization of style, health-minded building practices, transitional interior/exterior floor plans, comfort and technology and of course, the front porch are just a sampling of new home buyer wish lists for 2016 and new home builders are paying attention.
Smart home builders are stepping up to meet the demands of eco-friendly minded home buyers by offering features that promote energy efficiency and a healthier indoor environment. Driven mostly by affluent Baby Boomers, green builders are sought out and more than half of builders, according to a recent study for NAHB have responded by promoting their green projects.
“We can build homes a better way,” spoken by Tedd Benson and truly representative of new home builder trends.
Look for interior spaces to promote what I call living spaces that cultivate community through relationships, comfort and well-being while creating task oriented spaces that visually separate but not at the expense of isolation.
Homeowners will continue to take more responsibility for incorporating eco-friendly options into their new homes; a sampling follows.
Energy Efficient Light Bulbs
If you are truly interested in making your home greener using energy-efficient light bulbs use less energy and they last longer.
Low VOC Paint
Volatile Organic Compounds found inside paint can evaporate into the air. Inside the home they can be harmful to your health, when used outside they can contribute to pollution. There are many low VOC paint options to choose from.
Energy Efficient Appliances
A new home means new appliances and provide an opportunity to purchase energy-efficient appliances that will save on energy consumption and your energy bill. This is an easy way to support environmental green efforts initiated by your new home builder.
Locally Sourced Materials
From local building materials to counter-tops you are supporting eco-friendly efforts by cutting down on “shipping and trucking materials, which adds pollutants into the air” according to ecofriend.org.
Green Home Certification
Building an eco-friendly home that meets the criteria for obtaining a Green Home Certification will increase the value of your home while saving energy and providing years of efficiency and cost savings in running your home. LEED is the most popular certification program for eco-friendly new home building.
As you consider building your new home this year, build green, build eco-friendly!
