If you’re looking to maximize the sale of your real estate, to attract the highest-end buyers, and to increase your profit margins as best as possible, then knowing what improvements and upgrades to focus on is always wise. Nowadays, there has been a huge shift towards the building of sustainable buildings, those using technologies, materials, and installations to decrease their impact on the local environment as well as their contribution towards the broader carbon footprint. Here, we’re going to look at some that have become particularly trendy.
Green Building Certifications
Rather than being a niche consideration, sustainability is becoming a much more mainstream expectation. As such, many homeowners have started to pay attention to whether houses have green building certifications like BREEAM to lend credibility to their eco-friendly credentials. These certifications go beyond energy use to include water conservation, air quality, and materials sourcing. Certified properties command higher rents and resale values while reducing operational costs. They serve to showcase a property’s commitment to environmental responsibility, and in competitive markets, they can be an attractive selling point. Take the time to see if you can earn any of these certifications for your own building and, if not, what you might need to do to qualify.
Solar Power
Perhaps the best visual representative of the push towards more sustainable building and living practices, solar panels continue to become increasingly popular as their impact is more broadly known. Working with a solar panel installer, you can get a better idea of how much each property you own would benefit from those panels in terms of energy produced and money saved. More homes are even starting to install solar batteries, which can store the excess energy produced on sunny days so that the residents’ reliance on the grid can be reduced even when the sun isn’t out. As utility incentives and government subsidies continue to support renewable adoption, expect solar-plus-storage systems to become a standard feature in the higher end of the market.
Adaptive Reuse
Whereas, in the past, it might have made more sense to demolish old structures to make room for shiny new builds, a lot of real estate shoppers and developers alike are embracing adaptive reuse. This is the practice of repurposing existing buildings and adapting them to modern standards. This trend reduces construction waste, preserves historic character, and significantly cuts down on the environmental footprint of new development. Converting warehouses into loft apartments or old schools into coworking spaces is now seen as both sustainable and culturally appealing. Of course, it greatly benefits the investor, as well, as it greatly reduces the amount of time and money that would be spent having to rebuild, including the money for permits and materials. Some cities are even offering fast-track approvals on adaptive reuse, making it easy to get them to market quicker.
Smart Building Tech
Smart technology has been becoming more popular for quite some time now, but aside from being one of the key drivers of modern convenience standards, it can also be a powerful green living tool. With the use of IoT sensors, automated lighting, climate control systems, and even real-time energy use analytics, smart homes can operate much more efficiently. For example, smart thermostats adjust HVAC systems based on occupancy, while sensors detect water leaks before they cause damage. This kind of automation reduces energy waste and operating costs, making homes that use smart technology or are “smart home ready” a lot more attractive.
Sustainable Materials
If you’re looking at constructing a building from scratch, doing a rebuild, or adding an extension, then your choice of materials can make a big difference. Sustainable materials such as bamboo flooring, recycled steel, reclaimed wood, and low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints are becoming much more popular due to their ability to not only reduce the environmental impact of the construction process but also to create healthier homes with better indoor air quality and general well-being. Locally sourced materials are also gaining traction to minimize transportation emissions and support regional economies. With increased supply chain transparency and better availability, green materials are becoming more affordable. People are starting to shift more towards healthier, greener homes, which is being pushed by a regulatory environment focusing more on sustainable construction, too.
Water Conservation Technologies
Carbon footprint isn’t the only thing that people are thinking about when they consider green living spaces. In fact, depending on where they live, their use of water might be a much greater source of concern. Droughts and water shortages are becoming more common in various regions, which is making water conservation a much bigger talking point. As such, many properties are integrating low-flow fixtures, dual-flush toilets, greywater recycling systems, and rainwater harvesting. Smart irrigation systems use weather data and soil sensors to minimize water use while keeping landscapes healthy. Some are even investing in adding green roofs that can help reduce runoff, which also contributes to the biodiversity of their local environment. There are plenty of ways to make properties much more water efficient, making them attractive in areas more likely to be affected by water shortages.
Carbon-Neutral Developments
Back to the realm of developing real estate properties from scratch, there are plenty of new buildings and even new community projects that are being designed with carbon-neutrality in mind. In fact, some even go further and aim for carbon-negative construction. These developments typically use a wide range of the tools mentioned above, like renewable energy, energy-efficient design, and sustainable transportation solutions, to reduce the carbon footprint of the property’s construction and use as little as possible. These projects attract climate-conscious residents and buyers looking to invest in long-term value and as low an impact on the environment as they can manage. Initial costs of these projects tend to be higher, but the public demand for these greener living options is continuing to grow.
Moving Towards Walkable Spaces
Although many people still love their cars, there has been something of a shift, a broader awareness of the impact that driving has on the environment. Walkable, transit-oriented developments are on the rise, especially in cities aiming to lower vehicle emissions and improve quality of life. Similarly, more developers are trying to build closer to urban infrastructure in order to reduce the sprawl of buildings and prevent long commutes. These trends do tend to be a lot more common in community developments, rather than in individual properties, but it should also give you an idea of the type of property locations you should be focusing on investing in when the opportunity arises.
Biophilic Design
A relatively recent trend, biophilic design is a philosophy that combines natural elements with built environments, and it is quickly becoming a cornerstone of green real estate. This goes much further than simply adding new plants, but focuses more broadly on natural light, ventilation, organic materials, greenery, water features, and nature-inspired layouts. Aside from being much more visually green, these spaces have also been found to have a real impact on mental health, to reduce stress and improve productivity, which is making them just as popular in commercial real estate as it is for residential areas. Green walls, indoor gardens, and rooftop ecosystems also enhance air quality and the thermal properties of homes, which can also reduce energy reliance.
Green living has become more than a practical or ethical concern for many people in the luxury housing market, it’s become a status signifier. As such, think carefully about the investments you can make into your next real estate project to make it more sustainable and, as such, more desirable.
