Will Plummeting Prices Stall Green LEED Certified Home Builds?

The real estate market right now seems to be doing a great impression of Walmart with their falling prices campaign. As more families lose their homes to foreclosure, as house prices drop and couples see the equity in their homes dissappearing before their eyes, one has to wonder what effect all this will have on the gains made in selling the concept of building green, designing and building green homes.

We were contemplating a major green renovation of our own home that has now been postponed as it would be almost impossible for us to recoup the investment when selling our home. the tumultuos market has seen us lose almost $60,000 of our equity in the past 12-15 months, and looking forward, do not see the market making a turn around in a timely enough fashion to allow us to recover the costs of renovation, let alone turn a profit in say five years. Crunching our own numbers, the monthly budget savings would just about cover the construction loan payments. In a bull market, greening our home would make economic sense when we sold it, as we would recoup our investment, and turn a profit. Foreclosure is not a worry for us, but we are feeling the pinch of lost equity as a result of lower home values due to the glut of inventory now on the market.

Solar is popular because of the rebate programs, and other green renovations (such as kitchen cabinets) for health reasons, or because it is the right thing to do. Question is, will consumers considering home renovations be willing to pay a premium to build green in a depressed housing market? If not, what will the effects of a stalled green building movement be?

Leave a comment, share your comments on this important question to the green building industry.

A Green Cosmic Hello-Green Bathrooms

Greetings Green Folk:

Welcome to the world of the Green Cosmic Rabbit where we cover every topic in the world from a very green perspective. Politics, humor, green answers to your every green question over time will be answered here, hopefully in a way to have you visiting often, and bringing along a friend. To start this journey into green living as we work towards creating a beautiful self sustainable earth, thought we would address one of the most sensual and delicious rooms in our homes. (No, not the kitchen!)

Necessary Elements of a Green Bathroom

Environmentally Friendly, sustainable Green building materials combined with creative, aesthetically pleasing ecological design are the cutting green edge way to implement sound health and hygiene practices, ensuring that clean water, clean air and healthy habitat are a central theme of your bathroom remodel.

1. For vanities and cabinets seek out sustainable harvested woods, renewable materials like bamboo, wheat straw, or sunflower plants bound with resins free of volatile organic compounds.
   
   
2. Countertops should incorporate green products such as EnviroGLAS® Terrazzo which can contribute 7 or more US Green Building Council LEED® points of the 69 total available, while making a beautiful addition to any contemporary green bathroom renovation.
   
   
3. For an updated green version of a old classic, consider recycled glass, ceramic or porcelain tiles which are available in every color and hue imaginable.
   
   
4. Older toilets use up to 5 gallons per flush (GPF), Dual-flush models such as the Profile™ Toilet Suite greatly reduces water usage, preserving this valuable natural resource.
   
   
5. Adequate ventilation makes for a healthier bathroom. Operable windows and good ventilation keep fresh air circulating through the space.
   
   
6. Longevity is central to sustainability. A well designed bathroom means less maintenance, fewer repairs and can postpone costly remodels.