We’re hearing lots of buzz in the tool industry surrounding the new materials making their way into homes as builders look to meet all the various state/local “green home” certifications. But we also get the feeling that no one really knows yet where the whole process is headed. Certainly with new home sales dropping so dramatically over the last year or so — and especially recently with the tax credit drying up — there’s plenty of motivation out there to do whatever the hell it’ll take to get you to buy a new home.
So that said: Do you care about green home certifications? And if so, how much do you care? How high is the green factor in terms of your buying decision?
Personally, while I love the idea of reducing waste, it’s pretty much a financial decision for me. How much can I save on power/water bills, and how long will it take me to recover whatever I’m spending to get that savings. Another factor for me is the confusion. With no obviously clear (at least to me) method for determining what benefits we’ll actually see from the build process, it’s pretty tough to make serious decisions. On the other hand, we’ve also seen some pretty damn miserly homes assuming money is no object.
What do you think? Educate us in comments if you will.
[Thanks, seeks2dream, for the awesome CC-licensed photo.]
Green Home Guide [US Green Building Council]
Buying a Green Home [Green Living Tips]