Talking About Green

The impact of climate change is starting to be felt all around the world. Many people want to preserve the planet and leave it a better place for future generations. People are starting to take notice that green building is not only good for the environment, but for the bottom line as well. There are tax incentives offered by the government, along with reductions in home insurance rates by starting to build green.

Main Green Certifications

A building is said to be “green” if it makes use of technologies and resources that promote efficiency, reduces the impact on the environment, and helps to enhance the inhabitants’ health. Three main certifications are available for being green.

1. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) – silver, gold and platinum levels are available.
2. The Green Building Initiative (GBI) – Green globes Rating System with a rating of one to four
3. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Star Program.

The number of buildings getting green certification is increasing exponentially each year. In studies carried out so far, it has been found that green buildings have higher productivity, give bigger return on investments, lower utility bills, reduce maintenance costs, help to protect endangered species, and support sustainable resources.

Successful Green Building

Home owners are finding it to their benefit to join the green building bandwagon because it can save them a lot of money. Investments laid out to make a home green normally pay for themselves in three years. That is a rate of return of roughly 33%. However, the real benefit comes from the fact that the home owner gets a 30% return on the investment for 20 to 50 years.

The money invested in insulating, upgrading windows, and efficient lighting will pay for itself in three years and after that the savings go into the homeowner’s pocket. Additionally, some of the green measures, like passive solar design, do not even cost very much. Just doing something as simple as changing to the lower energy consuming light bulbs makes an impact.

• When considering going green follow the basic steps outlined below:
• Start with clearly outlined goals based on sustainable principles.
• Indentify where tax exemptions, insurance incentives, and any funds available for building green are.
• Select contractors with some green building knowledge or previous experience.

Five Green Building Tips for Lower Home Insurance Rates

While converting one’s house into an environment-friendly residence can appear to be a daunting and expensive task, rest assured that in the long run it will be worth it. Just the savings in the energy costs will cover for the initial expenses, but take into consideration the home insurance benefits and the tax incentives provided by the government and the savings really start to mount. Run your project by your home insurance agent, become familiar with the various parts of a home insurance policy, and then build! Here are five tips that will lower the cost of home insurance rates.

Double Glazing

Installation of PVC windows that are double-glazed saves a tremendous amount of energy. The house will stay much warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, because heating or cooling a double-glazed window is easier. This will take less energy to get the home to the desired temperature; hence, the energy bill is reduced. Besides scoring the green points, there is the added security of having modern-locking windows, and they also help to bring down the insurance premiums. So this adds up to a double win.

Insulate the Loft

Each year there are hundreds of very expensive claims made when pipes in the roof space freeze and water seeps down through the ceiling. Properly insulating the attic and casing it puts a stop to this problem and reduces the heat loss through the roof. Roughly 25% of heat loss takes place through the roof!

Invest in Solar Panels

Solar panels offer multiple benefits. Besides helping to reduce the energy bill, President Obama’s economic stimulus package allows the homeowner to get 30% of the installation cost of the renewable energy equipment back. This is not a part of the deductions, but cash back from the government in the form of a tax refund or deduction from what is owed on the tax return. With increased awareness of things like eco car insurance, paperless online billing, and other green insurance measures it makes sense to save money while helping the environment.

Replace the Old Boiler

Boiler breakdowns lead to thousands of home insurance claims yearly, not to mention that they are inefficient, release more emissions in the environment, and waste more energy. Replacing the boiler reduces insurance, heating bills, and helps the environment – all in one go.

Cavity Wall Insulation

35% of the energy is wasted through the walls of a house. Installing a cavity wall insulation in a home can put a stop to this loss. The savings incurred will not only help the finances and the environment, but reduce the home insurance claims as well.

Masonry Home Improvements

If one is thinking of building a house, remodeling or adding on, it will be well worth their while to look into masonry work. When brick veneer is added to a wall, there is an immediate 35% savings of energy. Brick homes are 32% less likely to catch fires, so fire insurance premiums go down tremendously. Additionally, brickwork increases the resale value of the house by 5% to 10%. According to independent appraisers’, brick homes enjoyed an average 6% greater resale price than non-brick homes found in the same neighborhood.

Masonry products are recognized by government programs to be environmentally friendly and contribute to green building status. This means they qualify for the tax breaks, as they do not deplete precious natural resources.

Since masonry provides greater security, fire, and termite protection, many insurance companies give up to 15% discounts on home insurance rates. So going green is not only good for the environment, but very beneficial for the pocket as well.

Author Bio: Samantha is an insurance expert and contributor for a home insurance rates website. When she is not busy doing research on various ways to save money on home insurance she can usually be found in the kitchen making her signature homemade whole wheat pasta.

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