What is the difference between "Green" Real Estate and "Sustainable" Real Estate?
There is a great difference between what is "green" and what is "sustainable" real estate. When you consider "green" real estate, you begin to look at what makes the home more "healthy" for those inhabiting the home. You begin to look at what materials are used to build the home, what materials are used in the landscaping around the home, what the ecosystems and habitats are in the surrounding area.
Therefore, "green" homes revolve around issues such as:
1. Heating & energy choices such as wind, geothermal, hydro, chemical, and solar energy.
2. Material choices that reduce the amount of VOC's (volatile organic compounds) released into our air, water, and soil.
Author's NOTE: In Chemistry Reactions it is common knowledge that "likes dissolve likes". Since humans, pets, and plants are predominately made up of "organic compounds" the higher the amount of VOC's around us, the higher the likelihood of those being transported into our body and passed on to our offspring. DNA is a tricky thing, as are enzymes and proteins that create cells (including our sex cells) and make our bodies function properly. When we absorb VOC's we are at great risk of "shutting down or speeding up" enzymatic and/or hormonal processes within every cell of our body. Which can lead to cancers, autoimmune disorders, compromised DNA and the like that can be passed on to our future generations.
3. Building materials that reduce the amount of environmental impact, both in their "renewable" rate, as well as their water and energy consumption for production.
Author's NOTE: When considering the purchase of wood flooring, you will want to consider cork, bamboo, laminates, and all wood. Consider purchasing and using materials that are readily available in your area. Remember, the further you are shipping these products into your area, the greater the increase in the amount of energy you are using. All woods are sustainable products. Laminates are not sustainable. However both woods and laminates are considered to be "green" building materials.
4. Available fresh water resources and the efficiency of the water usage. Look at water faucet and showerhead designs, materials that allow xeroscaping, and the recycling of "grey" water.
Author's NOTE: Appliances that are "Energy Star" rated may or may not be water efficient. It is important when considering "green" real estate that you consider the above 4 in your overall "green" design. Turf grass such as http://tuffturfinc.com is considered to be a "green" product but is not considered to be a sustainable product, which leads me to my previous comment. "There is a great difference between "green" real estate and "sustainable" real estate.
What is considered to be a "sustainable"? According to the "Merriam-Webster" dictionary, the word sustainable means "of, relating to, or being a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged". The easiest way to think about this is to ask yourself these 2 simple questions: "If I use this product can I personally find a way to give back to nature that which I have used? During my lifetime, can I witness the "rebirth" of this product? For example: How many trees will I cut down in my area to build my home? How many trees do I need to replant to replace the amount of trees I have used? This is the "truest" example of what it means to be "sustainable".
OK, Now that you have some examples and information for Green Real Estate and "Sustainable" Real Estate let's consider the following:
To be considered truly sustainable real estate you must go beyond the "green" thinking and look at "zero" consumption standards. What you use you must be able to give back within your lifetime. If the product or products you are using cannot provide this net zero consumption, it may be considered "green" but it is definitely not "sustainable. For example: A home of 4200 square feet with a HERS (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_energy_rating) index of 70 may be considered green, but is not sustainable. Look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:HERSyardstick.gif for a great visual example.
Author's NOTE: You will need to come back and visit a later blog for more information. I am out of time today and want to give you some very specific information on how to become more sustainable in your real estate business. In future blogs I will discuss with you how to design, create, obtain financing, reduce your buyer and seller's costs, and market the property for a faster sale‼ More to come..Karen Storey
