SHADES OF GREEN: Survey supports home buyer’s quest for energy efficiency
“Characteristics of Home Buyers,” an analysis of the latest American Housing Survey, was recently released by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
At the top of the wish list is Energy-star ratings. Researchers found that Energy-star rated appliances are most coveted, followed closely by energy efficiency in the laundry room. Generation Homes works closely with home buyers to meet their needs and requirements through the Shades of Green Program.
Ultra-efficient home design combines state-of-the-art, energy-efficient construction, appliances, and lighting with commercially available renewable energy systems.
There is also growing interest in single-story homes, and energy efficiency continues to be a concern. In fact, nine out of ten buyers surveyed would prefer to purchase a home with energy-efficient features and permanently lower utility bills rather than to buy a home without those features that costs two to three percent less.
New homes today definitely fit that description, and as a group are the most energy- and resource-efficient homes ever built.
Increasing numbers of homes nationwide are being constructed to the ICC 700 National Green Building Standard (NGBS), which is the only residential green building rating system approved by ANSI as an American National Standard. These homes have lower operating costs due to cost-effective energy and water efficiency practices and the use of lower maintenance materials.
Additional NAHB analysis of information from the 2011 AHS shows that energy costs are about 10 percent lower in new homes, even though new homes tend to be larger. The average annual cost of energy was $2,478 for all single-family homes and $2,240 for those built after 2008, which were new when the information was compiled.
Average maintenance costs were 56 percent lower for new homes. Average annual maintenance costs for homes built after 2008 were $241 compared to $547 for all single-family homes.
For more information on Generation Homes’ Shades of Green Program, call (904) 759-0702.
—MIKE BONTS