In 2019, green home features continued to gain acceptance in both new home builds and home renovations. As people become more aware of more energy efficient ways to build a home, we expect to see these features more commonly adopted.
Here are just a few of the statistics which you may find interesting from the past year. How will this affect new home construction as we move into 2020 and beyond? It remains to be seen.
Even if you are building a new home for yourself and not looking to sell, incorporating features which are desirable to many homebuyers may help in the future – especially as these customizations become more and more standard.
How Popular are Green Home Features?
In 2019, it was reported that 11% of new home buyers choose their home while taking green/energy efficient features into consideration. Respondents to a survey conducted by the National Association of Realtors said that these issues were “important or very important.” Decisions were comprised of a wide range of factors, including:
- Heating and Cooling: Not surprisingly, the biggest concern to buyers – 87% of them – when it came to energy efficiency was keeping the home warm or cool. Here in the Sarasota area, cooling a home can take quite a bit of energy, so the HVAC systems used in the home were one of the biggest concerns. If you are building a new home or renovating, you can take other measures to reduce your energy costs as well, including looking into cool roofs and window coverings.
- Light Fixtures: 67% of respondents were looking for homes which provided energy efficient lighting solutions, whether through replacing the light bulbs, or more natural light incorporated into the design of the home. Skylights and soaring windows which have mechanical blinds to cover them during the hottest times of the day are a great option.
- Energy Efficient Appliances: Energy Star ratings play a big role in helping a buyer to identify the efficiency of the machines they will use every day, especially dishwashers, clothes dryers and refrigerators. Energy-efficient appliances were deemed as important by 67% of respondents.
- Solar Solutions: Only 11% of those concerned about energy efficiency or green home features were looking for skylights, indicating that this technology is still struggling for widespread acceptance.
- Neighborhood Efforts: Both neighborhood conservation efforts (44%) and personal property landscaping (47%) were important to those looking for green home features. Whether utilizing plants which need less water, xeriscaping, natural preserves or organic fertilization and pest control, residents want to enjoy natural beauty without harming the environment.
- Generationally Speaking: 13% of those under the age of 35 purchased a home with an eye towards green home features. Similarly, 14% of those aged 35-50 did so. However, the concern dipped considerably (to 9%) from age 50-70, rising again to 12% for those over age 70.
Green Home Remodeling
When looking at the top renovations undertaken to make a home more energy efficient, the most common upgrade was insulation, at 71%. This is a fairly easy and inexpensive way to keep your home cooler during the Longboat Key summers. The next most popular upgrade was to HVAC (heating and cooling systems), with 52% of home remodelers replacing their current equipment. Replacing windows came in 3rd place, with 47% of homeowners taking on that project.
Did You Know? Florida building codes require new windows to be hurricane wind-rated; in addition to rating them for energy-efficiency.
Whether you are building a new Sarasota home, renovating your home for resale, or simply looking to go green for yourself – the professional general contractors at Lindahl Construction are the right call to make. Our expertise spans decades and our reputation is solid. How can we help you get more efficient in 2020?