Learn 4 ways a sustainable home can earn homeowners significant ROI, including improved health, lower utility costs, financial incentives, and higher resale value. Read the full blog post at http://blog.desertstarconstruction.com/2015/04/go-green-to-get-green-4-reasons-a-sustainable-home-could-earn-you-money/ and to the other ways Desert Star Construction builds green, visit http://desertstarconstruction.com/sustainability/green-sustainable-building/.

1. Go Green To Get Green:
4 Reasons A Sustainable Home
Could Earn You Money
It’s time to see the “bigger picture” to determine the true value of investing
in custom residential “green” building and technology

2. In honor of EarthDay 2015,JeremyMeek, DSC Sustainability ProgramsManager and ASU
Alumni (BS ConstructionManagement),has revealed 4 reasonsa sustainablehome could
potentially earn homeownerssignificant ROI, including improvedhealth,lower utility
costs, financial incentives,and higher resale value.
Despite recent trendsamong homeownersto combine advanced “green”technologywith
design and qualityworkmanship,the upfrontinvestmentassociated with building
sustainablyoften stands as a deterrentfor those who fail to see the bigger pictureof
owning a sustainable home. When fully considered,the benefitsof owning a sustainable
home could end up more thanpaying for any upfrontinvestments,provingthat a
sustainablehome is not a money pit, buta source of real value.

3. 1. NUMBERSDON’T LIE WHENIT COMES TO YOURHEALTH
The value of a sustainable home begins with the most obvious – the impact on people and
planet. According to the EnvironmentalProtection Agency, the average U.S. home emits a
large portion of the nation’s carbonfootprint,which is twice as muchcarbon dioxide as
the average passengercar. Additionally, residencesuse 74% of water in the UnitedStates
each year.The U.S. Green Building Council also presentedstudies that foundpollutants
such as dustor gases being emitted from building materials are two to five times more
prevalentindoors than outdoors.Thisis a serious concern for the wellbeing of those
inside yourhome, as traditional building practices don’t often take into account
sustainablestrategies that could potentiallyeliminate these risks.

4. 2. HIRE SUSTAINABILITYEXPERTS TO LOWER COSTS
When optimally built, sustainable homes incorporatea system thatrefrains from using
resourcesin the first place. Manyhomeownersare misled into thinking that if they install
a row of solar panels or buya piece of “green” technology theyare optimizing the
sustainabilityof their residence.While this is trueto some degree, thereare many factors
that need to be taken into account during the design and building process thatminimizes
the use of resourcessuch as electricity, waterand gas consumption.Essentially,the
design, construction,and operation of the house need to be viewed from a holistic
systemsapproach.
“The bestcourse of action to ensure a sustainablehome is fully optimized is to employ an
experienced team of professionals,including the architect,builder,interior designer and
engineering consultants,”statedDSC President JerryMeek. “Theirmission is to
implement the most insightful plan of action to build and maintain the highestquality,
most ecologically and financially sustainablehome that achieves the homeowner’s
lifestyle goals.”

5. 3. CAPITALIZEON BIG INCENTIVES
Also included in the value of owning a sustainable home are local and national incentives.
According to the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency
(www.dsireusa.org),thereare currently48 incentives,special loans and tax credit
programsin the state of Arizona developed specifically to encourage energy efficiency
and sustainabilityinitiatives within the home. The design and constructionteam should
be knowledgeable of such programsand be able to properlyguide the homeowner
throughthe planning, design and constructionprocessto ensureall necessarymeasures
are completed to optimize the sustainabilityand value of the home.

6. 4. SUSTAINABILITYEARNSPOTENTIALTOPDOLLAR
With the trendto “Go Green” coupled with the rising cost of resourcessuchas energy and
water,potential homebuyersarecreating a demandfor housesthat offer more than
design. According to a 2011studyconducted bythe nonprofitorganization Earth
Advantage Institute,new houses with third-partycertificationsfor sustainabilityand
energy efficiency (such as LEED for Homes or Energy Star designations)sold for nine
percentmore than noncertifiedhomes. The same study,as reportedby The Washington
Post, also noted that homes marketed with sustainabilitycertifications appearedto sell
faster on average than those without.While this is verygood news for those looking to
sell a home optimized with sustainable features,this data provides only a snapshotof
today’s real estate market. Potential buyersshouldalways consultwith an experienced
realtor and appraiserto determine the actual value of sustainable propertyand
strategies implemented in a custom home.

7. THE BIG PICTURE
“Focusing on the initial cost of owning a sustainable residence is the easiest way to settle
for a home that is substandardin comparison to the more advanced homesavailable on
the market,”stated Meek. “The long-termrewardsof owning a sustainablehome could
more than pay for yourinvestmentwhen designed and built properly.”
Thereare countless benefitsthat come from a sustainable home, including lower utility
bills, local and national incentives,and the preservationof our planet’s precious
resources.By setting sights on the bigger pictureof owning a sustainablybuiltresidence,
homeownersbenefit from a residence that offers significant returnsthroughoutitsentire
life cycle.