Going Green?

Green Construction is an emerging construction trend. One may want to consider how to incorporate some "Green" policies, if you are going to build a new home in Lee County Florida. What is the cost increase to build Green? On average, green homes cost a premium of <2%, but yield 10 times as much over the entire life of the building. Most savings are a result of lower utility bills. There have been some studies that show over a 20 year life period, some green buildings have yielded $53 to $71 per square foot back on investment.If you would like to learn more about Green Construction, read on and watch the video. New Construction in Lee County is alive and well. If you are considering building a new home, Call Jarrod or Megan Eister at (239) 415-6500.


The following are excerpts from the Florida Realtor Magazine, October 2007 | by Bridget McCrea | page 26

What’s Green? The practice of increasing the efficiency with which homes and the land around them use and harvest energy, water and materials. Such homes are generally built in a way that reduces the impact on human health and the environment, with those efforts undertaken through improved site selection, design, operation, maintenance and construction. According to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green commercial buildings, being green requires a whole-building approach to sustainability in five key areas: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. Green homes come in different shapes and sizes, although many of them share the same qualities. A few examples of green features include compact fluorescent light bulbs (instead of the traditional incandescent type) to save money on energy bills and cut down on greenhouse gas emissions; low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators to save resources without reducing water pressure; trees used for shade as a way of reducing cooling costs; Energy Star appliances used as a way to save 10 to 30 percent of operating costs; and paints and finishes that contain no or low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are a health hazard. What is the cost increase to build Green? Most green homes cost a premium of <2%, but yield 10 times as much over the entire life of the building. Most savings are a result of lower utility bills. There have been some studies that show over a 20 year life period, some green buildings have yielded $53 to $71 per square foot back on investment.