Sustainability and Colorado Green Homes

In my last post I talked about the difference between green and sustainability. In brief, green may be viewed as the environmental dimension of sustainability. The other two dimensions are social and economic.

Why the distinction? Why is this so important? Well, the short answer is that sustainability is about wholeness and it takes all three--social, economic, and environmental--to make the whole of anything sustainable. Sustainability means there will be something left for our children and their children and their grand children too. Sustainability is NOT an option. We will all get on board sooner or later--and the sooner, the better.

In sustainable real estate, we don't view a house as an isolated stand alone product to be bought or sold. Each house is viewed as an integral of a larger whole--a community. Neighborhoods form regions, and regions form states and so on. I believe it is a combination of the social, environmental and economic factors in balance and in some form of harmony with one another that come together to make a house a home and a neighborhood a community. The key is that each part is essential to the endurance of each other part. The enduring qualities of green homes, collectively, are what make them sustainable.

There is a growing awareness across the country about the benefits of sustainable real estate more commonly referred to as 'green' homes. This is especially true about green homes in the Denver Metro area of Colorado including Boulder county. Boulder is well known to be the leading knowledge center of green building innovation and design in the country.There are so many green homes in Boulder Colorado that it may well be the green home capital of the country if not the world.

Green homes are healthier for both humans and the environment. They generally sell for more money and retain their economic value longer than homes that are not built green.

One of the most common myths about green homes is that they cost more. This may be true if you only look at the purchase price. But when you look at the cost of ownership over time, green homes are a more cost-effective choice by far.

Moreover, the incremental increase in monthly mortgage payments due to the increased purchase price is usually offset by the decrease in operating costs. This means that although the green home may cost more in terms of purchase price, the monthly payments are often less compared to similar homes without the added green features. This is especially true with it comes to energy efficienct homes (a topic for another day.)

If you or someone you know are looking to buy or sell a green home in Denver Metro or Boulder county areas of Colorado, I can help. I have specialized training as an Certified EcoBroker. I know what to look for and how what questions should be asked.

Visit my website at E3GreenHOMES.com for more information or to search for green homes in Denver or surrounding areas.

Please feel free to comment on this post. You can also contact me anytime with questions or comments.

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