Think green before spending your cash

Many consumers are mindful of the environment when making purchases these days. Housing is on that list.

You don’t think of houses being responsible for carbon emissions, but they are — to a significant degree. The energy you use for heating, cooling, appliances and lighting most likely comes from a source that produces carbon emissions. Other factors, such as water use and building materials used to construct or remodel a home, also can affect the environment significantly.

You might think the best way to “go green” in housing is to start from scratch. And it’s true. If you’re building a new, custom home, you can make decisions that will greatly increase energy and water efficiency. You also can select the most environmentally friendly building materials and construction methods. But if you’re not building a new home, there’s no need to throw up your hands. There’s still plenty you can do to make a difference.

When looking to purchase an existing house, it’s possible to assess some aspects of its energy use. How old is the air conditioning unit? Does the landscaping consist of native plants? You might even be able to secure energy bills from the current owner to review electricity and water usage (but keep in mind that your usage may vary considerably).

You also can hire a professional to better determine just how energy efficient or inefficient a home may be.

Whether purchasing a home or wanting to make the best of the house you already own, there are many steps you can take to improve energy efficiency. Here are examples:

• Install rain barrels to collect roof runoff and use that water for irrigation.

• Replace water-thirsty plants with landscaping that requires little additional irrigation. • Replace old windows with energy-efficient windows. • Seal air leaks around windows, doors and other areas that may have gaps Also seal air ducts. • Install additional insulation. • Replace appliances with newer models that have earned the EPA’s Energy Star designation. • Replace heating and cooling units. • Replace the water heater with a more efficient model. • Change incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescents. You probably know that efforts like these offer benefits beyond helping the environment. They also save money. Yes, you pay more on the front end to make improvements BY CINDY HAMANN such as those listed above, but each one of them reduces your expenses – often paying for itself in short order. As energy costs continue to rise, the more you can do to cut consumption, the more it pays off.

You can find information online about how to lower your energy consumption and make wise environmental choices in housing. The EPA’s Energy Star Web site, EnergyStar.gov, offers resources and tips about new homes, home improvements and more. You can find advice, calculators and other helpful tools on other sites as well.

Your Realtor can help you make informed, green decisions. Some agents have even taken courses specifically designed to help their clients reap the benefits of environmentally friendly practices.

For information about Texas real estate, visit HAR.com. Cindy Hamann is 2017 chair of the Houston Association of Realtors/ HAR.com.