You don’t need to be able to define exactly what makes a home green to know you’d like a home with energy-efficient features. All you really need to know is that an eco-friendly home can help lower your bills and improve your quality of life. That’s why green features consistently rank high on home buyer wish lists. So if you’re shopping for a house and aren’t sure what to look for, here are a few easy things to check. Start with insulation. A house with good insulation holds heat and conserves energy. Try to learn as much as you can about what’s in the home’s walls. Also check the doors and windows. If they aren’t fit properly or have a cracked seal, it can put stress on the home’s heating and cooling systems. Naturally, Energy Star windows are best, but the newer the better. Additionally, you’ll want to look at which direction the house is facing. How a home is situated and the amount of natural sunlight it gets will have an impact on its efficiency. Of course, there are standards and certifications that can be verified to determine how green a home is but, outside of those, just asking about the age and maintenance of the home’s HVAC system, windows, and insulation can help you choose a home that operates more efficiently and keeps your utility bills low. (source)
