In 2022, there is a real emphasis on doing your best for the environment. More people than ever before are buying local products, planting wildflowers, and going vegan to help reduce CO2 emissions and do their part for the planet. This has also led to many businesses like Amazon building greenhouse spheres and others investing in external green walls to feed pollinators and support ecosystems.
With all of these greener-focused adjustments, there has also been a shift in the number of buildings overall being built from scratch with an emphasis on being better for the environment.
There are also many real-world advantages of green buildings which have gotten the attention of investors.
Cost
Firstly, the construction cost of building a green building from scratch is the same as building a regular one from scratch.
However, the materials that are used to build green homes and buildings do not require replacing as regularly as those of standard homes, meaning that you will not have to shell out for repairs as often. Many construction companies promote green buildings for this reason, with businesses like WR Meadows being very pro the green change in building design and materials.
Energy Efficient
Green buildings and homes are generally more energy-efficient than their non-green counterparts. The European Commission has found that when comparing the costs of energy from non-green homes and buildings to those that are green by design, there is a saving of between €210-€420 billion in energy.
This means that when you move into a green building, you will save a literal fortune on your energy bills.
Smaller Carbon Footprint
Many businesses around the world are being charged for their CO2 emissions, which does not stop in the world of building houses. Therefore, for many investors in building projects, backing a project that does not use green resources or methods of building can add additional costs to the so-called ‘green tax.’ Thus, more people are investing to build greener homes, as they are simply more affordable when it comes to the taxing area of the building.
Lower Maintenance
Maintenance was touched on earlier but consider how a green home gets its energy. Electricity is usually derived from solar panels, which are costly to install but cost pennies to run and to maintain. Due to their design, few (if any) repairs are needed, and a solar panel can last 25 years without any extensive oversight. This means that once again, the maintenance cost on a green property is lower than that of a regular home.
General Shift
The key reason why many investors are eager to back green builds is due to the shift in public consensus. More people than ever are buying green properties and having solar panels installed, as well as investing in ways to save money. So, from a business perspective, it makes little to no sense for investors and home buyers in general to snub green houses or builds, as it seems that they really are here to stay.