What to Look for in an Eco-friendly Santa Cruz Home
Posted by Lauren Spencer on Saturday, July 25th, 2009 at 9:29am.If you're like many people today, you not only want to live comfortably you want to live responsibly. That means having a Santa Cruz home that is as eco-friendly as possible.
If you don't buy a home that's already eco-friendly, you'll have to do your own improvements. Why not look for Santa Cruz homes that had eco-friendly features originally built in or recently installed. Here are a few things you can look for to see if your prospective new home is "green" no matter what color it's painted.
• Double-paned windows are one very important eco-friendly feature. They keep the cold out in the winter and hold heat in, and vice versa in the summer months.
• Eco-friendly appliances already in the kitchen and utility rooms mean you won't have to go running out to buy brand new ones. Look for Energy Star symbols and ratings on all major appliances such as stoves, refrigerators, washer/dryers, heating and cooling systems.
• Low water flow fixtures keep your costs down while saving the planet's water supply.
• Even something as simple as awnings over the windows adds a great energy saving resource to a Santa Cruz home. Retractable awnings are even better because they will keep the heat out in the summer, and in the winter, you can put them up to let the sunlight help heat your home.
• Color counts: The color of your home's exterior should be light to reflect heat, rather than a dark color that will attract and hold heat.
• An on-demand hot water system saves energy because it only heats water when it's needed.
Looking for an eco-friendly Santa Cruz home? I can help. As a National Association of Realtor's Green Designee, I have become a residential real estate professional advocating education and the adoption of green real estate principles. The Green Designation sets me apart showing I am committed to the growing and positive force behind the green building movement. Call me today at 831.662.6522 or email me at lauren@laurenspencer.com
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