How to Buy the Most Eco-Friendly Home Possible

(How Going Green CAN Save You Money in the Long Run)

There are dozens of factors to consider when buying a home – location, schools, potential resale value, and cost. But while you are looking, you can seek out the best deal, eco-wise, that you can, and some items that are environmentally friendly will be friendly to your wallet too.

Buying an existing home is the original recycling program. Regardless of the age of the home, there are things you can look for that may be there already, or that you can easily add or change in the first few weeks after you move in.

Look for Energy Star rated appliances that use less energy. If you need to replace the appliances, look for that Energy Star label; often it won’t cost any more. Check with your utility company too -- you may get a rebate on your purchase. If the refrigerator comes with the house and is 10 years old (or older) make this the first appliance you replace – and DON’T put the old fridge in the garage or basement! See if you can position the refrigerator out of the sunlight and away from the oven, where it gets hot and must work harder.

Granite countertops have recently been linked to increased levels of Radon gas. If you need to make a change, consider recycled-content glass countertops.

A reverse-osmosis water filter (usually installed under the kitchen sink) is both an economic and environmentally-friendly alternative to buying bottled water.

Look for a home that takes advantage of natural light with well-placed windows, skylights, or sun tunnels.

Look for low-flow toilets, and use flow reducers on the shower and sinks so you’re using less water. While it might use a little electricity, a bathroom fan keeps air circulating and prevents mold growth.

Look for ceiling fans; they keep warm air from rising in the winter and provide cool air in the summer, without having to use an air conditioner. Ask if there is insulation in the walls and attic.

Here are some other energy robbers to watch out for:

Light bulbs. Compare traditional and compact fluorescent (CFL) light bulbs, and the numbers speak for themselves: According to Energy Star, if every American home replaced just one light bulb with a CFL, enough energy could be saved to light more than 3 million homes for a year. CFL light bulbs can last up to ten times longer as well.

Electrical outlets. Wherever you see a small red or green LED glowing, energy is being used. Anything plugged in to electrical outlet uses energy even if not in use -- plug TV’s, appliances and computers into power strips that you can turn off when you’re not using them.

Water heater. Turn the water heater to 120 degrees. Wrap it with an insulating water heater blanket to help reduce heat loss by 25-40% (some newer units have built-in insulation).

Wash your clothes in cold water. About 90% of the energy used for washing clothes is used to heat the water. Modern detergents don’t need hot water to work anyway.

Use the dishwasher. Yes, on this issue, the modern convenience beats the old fashioned way. A new dishwasher will be more efficient than hand washing, since it uses less than ten gallons of water per load. Run only full loads and let dishes air dry if you can.

Water grass carefully. Watering lawns and gardens accounts for 50% or more of home water use. Water early in the morning and keep grass three to four inches long to prevent evaporation. Better yet, replace the grass with native plants, which will also help you avoid the noise, pollution (and cost) of using a gas mower.

As you get into remodeling, look also at environmentally friendly substitutes, many of which won’t cost more than other choices:

Linoleum instead of vinyl. According to Greenpeace, vinyl is the most environmentally harmful plastic out there, and it’s made with substances (dioxin is one) that can contribute to serious health problems, too. True linoleum, made from linseed oil, is a better choice.

Low or no-VOC paints. Regular paints release toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs), but non-VOC paints are now readily available. Also, look for low or no-VOC sealers and caulks.

Bamboo, cork, or reclaimed wood floors instead of carpet or hardwood. Carpet is a particularly bad choice if it emits VOCs, and most do. If you are going to replace carpet, consider eco-friendlier options like cork or bamboo. These are good alternatives to hardwood, and costs should be comparable too. If carpet is a necessity, look for products that have low VOC emissions.

Bottom line, though, the best environmental guideline is not to buy more or bigger than you really need. Consuming less in the first place will always be the eco-friendly way to go.

--Alan LaGreen