Luxury Housing Goes Green
Lately it seems the whole world has gone green. From recycling to reusable water bottles and energy-efficient light bulbs, people are catching on to the green movement and increasing their efforts to become more environmentally responsible.
Like many corporations and industries, real estate is also contributing to the green crusade. More and more luxury real estate is readily equipped with sustainable features, including custom insulation for heating and cooling control and eco-friendly appliances. For eco-conscious buyers, green homes are intriguing alternatives to those that are not.
In fact, a recent article by The New York Times suggests that green homes aren’t just becoming a nice-to-talk-about commodity in luxury real estate; green elements are actually helping to sell homes, and agents are capitalizing on the emerging trend.
In the article, Dean Pulsinelli put his ranch in Massapequa Park (on Long Island, N.Y.) up for sale at $2.29 million, but not before rebuilding it to include wind-resistant sliding French doors and windows, an insulated roof and Energy Star-rated appliances. And, despite the home’s multimillion-dollar price tag, future owners will ultimately save on utility costs.
Green features have become so popular that home listing sites such as the Multiple Listing Service of Long Island (MLSLI) have incorporated them into their listings. According to its website, the MLSLI has a combined 585 active listings between Nassau and Suffolk counties advertising green features, 2.5 percent of its total listings.
In Phoenix, Ariz., green homes are becoming a way to compete in the housing market. Beazer Homes recently introduced solar-powered homes, and Meritage Homes works exclusively with eco-friendly residences. Its new community, Lyon’s Gate, in Gilbert is a true testament to sustainable living, featuring high efficiency lighting, weather-sensing irrigation and low-water-use fixtures, among others. The listing for Lyon’s Gate says owners can save up to 80 percent on utility bills, a real value in homes that only cost up to $229,900.
One luxury home in particular is helping lead the way toward green living. The Margarido House, located in Oakland, Calif., is the first home in the country to be LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) H certified and Greenpoint rated. Among its many sustainable details, the Margarido House includes:
-Western Red Cedar siding
- a planted roof garden and deck
- low-energy LED lighting
- solar electric power
- locally sourced sustainable building products
- in-floor hydronic heating
- recycled concrete and recycled glass counters and
- zero VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints.
Currently for sale, the Margarido House is a home that seamlessly combines modern, high-end design with sustainable products, making for a beautiful eco-chic estate. The house has received several awards, including Garden Design Magazine’s “2009 LEED Award” and Diablo Magazine’s “2009 Eco Award.” According to its website, the home itself is also 55 percent more energy efficient than California’s Title 24 energy standards.
In Montreal, the reveal of Domaine du Parc marked the opening of “the largest sustainable real estate project currently developed in the Greater Montreal area.” Resting on 400 sprawling acres, Domaine du Parc will include homes intertwined within an on-site park, complete with nature trails and ice skating rinks. Both bus and train stations are also in the works, with the purpose of motivating residents to use public transportation. To top it off, more than 2 million square feet of land is being devoted to a lifestyle center for shopping.
Ultimately, it seems that green homes are becoming a way for designers and architects to differentiate their projects from others. By generating high-end products with green elements, developers are delivering the luxury that buyers want while remaining sensitive to the needs of the environment.
