What You Need to Know About Green Real Estate

When you think of “green” home design, what do you imagine? Solar panels, tankless water heaters, and maybe high-performance glazing on windows?

Sure, all of these are ways for your clients to make their homes a bit more environmentally friendly. But it doesn’t have to be that complicated. Vimal Kapoor, who has been in the busi ness of making homes greener for 32 years, says that green building is the future—and the more you know about it as a REALTOR ® , the better equipped for that future you’ll be.

Vimal, the chief home inspector at Prime Property Inspectors, LLC, says that the key to green building is an integrative and collaborative approach among the different stakeholders. “Historically, when we build houses, we build them in a linear manner,” he says. “The foun dation, framing, systems—mechanical, electrical, and plumbing—and the like.” “But people like myself involved with the design and construction of green buildings realized there was a benefit in taking a collaborative approach—where all parties involved with a particular aspect of building come onboard at an early stage,” he continues. That means, for example, that when a home’s plumbing system is being designed, the hydrologists, landscapers, engineers, and plumbers consult with each other to make sure the system is as efficient as possible.

There are five tenets of green building. First, it should be environmentally friendly.

When you’re looking to build a house, consider the site and the community. Are there green spaces, or nearby transit? Are you building on a hillside, meaning soil erosion will eventu ally be a factor? Are the plants around the building native to the area? How do you plan to water those plants, and where is the excess water run-off going? Vimal points out that nearby deciduous trees, for instance, will shed their leaves in winter and grow them in summer— helping heat and cool the house.

Orientation of the house is also important, says Vimal. “We want a long, south-facing building to maximize the benefits of natural ventilation, solar energy, and daylight,” he says, which will also help with energy consumption. Placement of thermal mass such as concrete, brick, or stone that will absorb daytime heat during peak hours in summer and return it back to the environment is an important factor.

Second, the house should be energy efficient. “No amount of fancy gadgetry is going to help you if your house isn’t sealed right or properly insulated,” warns Vimal. He also urges people to change their habits and behaviors around energy use inside the home.

Third, it should minimize water consumption. The plumbing fixtures should be efficient, with venturi design shower heads, dual-flush toilets, and touchless kitchen sink faucets. Homeowners may not have considered how long it takes for hot water to get to their bathroom’s fixtures; if it takes a while, water will be wast ed in the meantime. Vimal also advises minimizing pavement and driveways, thereby allowing surface water to uniformly infiltrate the ground. “Mother Nature,” he says, “is the best for removing the contaminants and replenishing groundwater.”

Fourth, the house should have healthy indoor environments. Mold or mildew, for instance, can be harmful to the occupants, as can any pollutants that can be drawn into the house from depressurization. Vimal points out that if a building’s “envelope,” or outside layer, is not properly sealed, the building could have problems with water intrusion. Demand-controlled ventilation also allows for the dilution of pollutants.

Finally, a house should be built from sustainable materials and products, such as wood floors, trim, and siding. The more reusable and recyclable materials, the better, says Vimal. Plus, some building materials are prone to releasing chemicals that can be harmful to the occupants and should not be used.

“The future is in advanced framing,” says Vimal. “In the last 100 years, we’ve been making steady progress in that regard. New materials are on the horizon that will address problems relating to energy perfor mance, structural performance, space-age insulation, and bendable concrete.”

Overall, he says, “I think green building is the future.”

An informed REALTOR ® with the most up-to-date information can offer themselves as a resource on green building. “REALTORS ® must know more than their clients and always be one step ahead of the game, even if you don’t know yourself how to make buildings more efficient or environmentally friendly.”

“The key is to know what is there and available so you can provide people with the right information,” Vimal says.