Sustainable and eco-friendly materials and practices continue to rise in popularity and accessibility in the real estate world. Technological advancements and increased awareness of environmental issues have made green real estate a smart choice in any location. Here are some of the main green real estate trends appearing in the market today:
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficient materials and building techniques are becoming more popular with time. Energy-efficiency not only reduces environmental impact of a home but also keeps utility bills low. Solar power, water recycling and other energy-saving concepts are trends that keep expanding in accessibility and popularity.
Repurposed Materials
DIY approaches to home renovations and design are another form of sustainable real estate. Repurposing or restoring old objects, fixtures and furniture helps reduce waste and carbon footprint. Some popular repurposing trends today are using old windows as wall decor or broken sinks and bathtubs as quirky outdoor planters.
Smart Homes
Home automation is a constantly expanding trend. As the technology gets more advanced and more affordable, the trend has made its way into countless homes regardless of area or style. One example of smart home technology that is also eco-friendly is a smart thermostat. These devices control the temperature of the home automatically to reduce energy expenditure and waste. Other things like smart light bulbs and smart appliances with automatic power-saving modes are also popular ways to stay green.
Green & Biophilic Designs
Green design has been an emerging trend among environmentally conscious homeowners, especially those in highly urban areas. Green and biophilic design incorporates the natural world into the design of the home. Some prominent examples of this concept are living walls, green roofs, strategic window placement to capture natural light and other architectural features to promote a connection to nature.
As with any trend, these green concepts might not work for everyone. However, with so many new options constantly emerging, it is easy to incorporate some of these eco-friendly trends into your home.
About the Author
Sandy Malbrue
Hi, I'm Sandy Malbrue and I'd love to assist you. Whether you're in the research phase at the beginning of your real estate search for representation or you know exactly what you're looking for, you'll benefit from having a real estate professional by your side. I'd be honored to put my 14 years real estate experience to work for you. Be it to gain wide exposure for your home with my marketing plan, negotiate offers or manage the transaction once you've accepted an offer, in a way that will get you the best price and cause the least amount of disruption to you life as possible.
If you are a buyer, allow me put those skills to work for you to help with the pre-approval process, work with you to locate and arrange for you to view homes of interest to you , and negotiate your offer. Once you have an accepted offer, I will help you arrange inspections, I will manage the transaction for you, from helping to arrange for inspections to keeping you up to date on contingency removals and walking you through the process to a new set of keys.
Let's do this!