‘Green’ houses not created equal

The practice is called “greenwashing” and home shoppers should be on guard: It means a house is being marketed as environmentally friendly and energy-saving when it doesn’t really deserve that description.

Greenwashing is a growing issue in real estate as multiple studies have shown that consumers are attracted to — and will often pay premiums for — homes that are highly efficient in saving energy, and money spent on utilities bills.

“Look in the MLS (multiple listing service) and you’ll see lots of homes listed as having green features,” said Sandra Adomatis, an appraiser in Punta Gorda, Florida. But that may mean as little as “somebody put in some LED light bulbs or a couple of Energy Star appliances.”

Adomatis is known for her expertise in valuing green properties. In an interview, she described one recent listing for a home built in 1959. It indicated that the house had a Home Energy Rating System score of zero — as good as you can get. The index, which measures a home’s efficiency, requires testing by a certified rater.

Adomatis knew it was unlikely that an older home would come anywhere close to zero, so she asked the listing agent about it. Her response: “I don’t know what HERS is or how they score, so I just put in zero.” Wow.

Allison A. Bailes III, founder and president of Energy Vanguard, a home energy rating and consulting company based in Decatur, Georgia, said, “A lot of (builders) are doing things that are just standard,” but they’re marketing them as green.

“If you’ve done any shopping lately, you may have noticed that it’s hard to find (an appliance) that’s NOT Energy Star certified,” Bailes noted in a blog.

So how can buyers recognize a bona fide green house? Adomatis lists five essentials:

■ Environmentally sensitive site planning, which minimizes tree destruction and manages runoff.

■ Energy efficiency throughout, including high-performance HVAC, lighting, insulation and appliances.

■ Exceptional inside air quality thanks to advanced filtration and exchange systems.

■ Extensive use of nontoxic building materials.

■ Water-conservation efficiencies, including toilets, shower fixtures and possibly waste-water reuse.