Denver "Green" real estate, is it really green?

There has been so much press and buzz out there when it comes to “green” Denver real estate. First things first. Most new homes being built can be called green through the requirements of the local Denver home builders Built Green program. This is great to see, but it doesn’t take that much more to reach that level. If you really want a green home look for one that has been independently certified by an outside source. This encompasses having a company come in and create a checklist of green features and aspects that are done throughout the building process. A well built home will have two to three times the minimum “built green” requirements.

Look for a home that has been Energy Star certified as well. This process ensures that the home has Energy Star appliances, low E windows, tightly wrapped exterior, sealed and wrapped HVAC ducts, high efficiency furnace and A/C, blown-in insulation, and most importantly be independently certified. Typically, builders who complete this process are very focused on building green and thus providing a home that goes above and beyond what is common place in the industry.

The newest and highest level of a green built home is being LEED certified. LEED is a certification that is completed by the United States Green Building Council and is the highest certification a home can have. LEED was only seen in some of the newest commercial buildings and not typically seen in residential homes due to the added cost and also the items that are required to get this certification. There are different levels of LEED certification from bronze to platinum. Basically, you have to satisfy certain requirements for each level and the platinum level home is the highest achievable. Some of the examples of LEED checklist items are water retention from rain fall for irrigation, foam insulated foundation, use of low VOC paints and flooring, solar, geothermal heating & cooling, and many other detailed requirements.

As we move forward with remodeling our homes and building new homes, these changes will become common place and mainstream. If you are looking for someone who is knowledgeable on these items you can look for a real estate agent that is a certified Ecobroker. An Ecobroker is a realtor that has been trained on the key aspects of green construction, sustainable living, solar, geothermal, wind power, and other key aspects surrounding living green