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Maximize Your Selling Price With Energy-Efficient Homes

Written by Posted On Wednesday, 02 October 2019 08:33
An energy efficient home An energy efficient home Shutterstock

By Michael Tobias

Research undertaken by the U.S. National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) indicates that energy efficiency is the top green building practice used to improve performance for both single-family and multifamily homes. 

Cost premiums have become a lower obstacle in recent years and advantages include operating efficiency of houses, long-term utility cost savings, and the fact that energy-efficiency results in homes that are generally healthier. 

Of course, all of this has an impact on real estate, whether houses are being bought or sold. The more energy-efficient features there are in a building, the more appealing the property is likely to be. 

However, the reality is that if the building isn’t already energy efficient, you will need cooperation from the owner to get some green remodeling done. The question is, what can you as a real estate agent suggest?

How to Make Homes Energy Efficient

First of all, it is important to understand that some houses are more energy-efficient than others, even though they all comply to some degree with eco-friendly principles. 

In essence, an energy-efficient design whether in New York, Chicago, or any other city in the world strives to minimize the resources that are needed to build, use, operate, and maintain the building. Houses are also designed or remodeled to reduce and minimize any possible environmental harm due to carbon emission, pollution, or waste of the building’s components. 

Professionals who understand these issues best include architects who specialize in green designs and any highly-rated MEP engineering firm in Chicago, New York, or wherever you live. 

The key principles relating to energy-efficiency in the U.S. are embraced by both the U.S. Green Building Council’s (GBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification program and the National Green Building Standard (NGBS) that was designed specifically for the rating and certification of residential buildings in the U.S. and is approved by the American National Standards Institute. 

There are five primary strategies:

  • Sustainable design of the site
  • Water quality and conservation of water
  • Energy efficiency and the environment
  • Indoor environmental quality
  • Conservation of resources and materials

I have to admit that it’s easier to follow these principles when designing a building from scratch rather than remodeling, particularly when it comes to site design, preparation, and development, including the placement of buildings, as well as resource efficiency which involves building materials and other components. 

For instance, passive solar design is an ideal technology that uses free energy from the sun for heating and cooling of living spaces in our buildings. But it is also something that depends on initial planning, including the form and shape of buildings and their orientation. Thermal insulation can though add solar passive features, and these can be added in a remodeling phase. Similarly, painting the roof a different color can also help improve passive solar design. 

Solar panels can be added to generate energy and solar water heaters installed to make water heating more energy efficient. Certainly, the use of solar photovoltaic panels is increasing quite rapidly, and ground source heat exchange is a very popular technology for single-family houses. 

Additionally, a substantial amount can be done to improve energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and water quality and efficiency of older buildings as well as those that are newly built. 

Water can be captured, stored, filtered, and reused. More specifically, rainwater can be harvested, and greywater from washing machines, dishwashers, kitchen sinks and so on can be used in place of potable water for sewage and irrigation. Quantities of waste-water can also be minimized by simply using fixtures like low-flow showerheads and ultra-low flush toilets. 

Green roofs can be developed to retain water and blue roofs to detain water. A green roof has a positive impact that adds to energy efficiency, absorbing rainwater, providing a natural habitat for birds, and adding insulation. A blue roof is a low-cost solution to stormwater management. Instead of relying on the usual downspouts and gutters, it is designed to either leave rainwater to pond on the roof surface (which works for a flat roof), or to drain into a cistern or rain barrel. Essentially, it is a means of rainwater harvesting.

Of course, it depends where you as a real estate agent are based, and what local codes and other regulations specify. Interestingly, Chicago has been a city that has actively promoted green roofs, while New York is recognized as playing a major role in blue roof technology. Toronto, on the other hand, promotes both. So, if you need to consult a professional, you’ll need to target a New York, Toronto, or Chicago engineering firm, or an architect or designer who is based in the city where you operate.

My best advice is to assess just how energy efficient a property is and then establish what can be done to improve energy-efficiency. It’s going to be worth it for both the property owner and the agent handling the sale. 

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Michael Tobias

Michael Tobiasis the founder and principal of New York Engineers, an Inc 5000 Fastest Growing Company in America. He leads a team of more than 30 mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection engineers from the company headquarters in New York City, and has led numerous projects in New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, and California, as well as Singapore and Malaysia. He is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council and specializes in sustainable building technology including those that relate to heating and air. 

www.ny-engineers.com

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