Green is the color of satisfaction, survey says

Are green home buyers happy home buyers? A new survey shows that they are.

More and more consumers are looking for green—or high-performance—homes that are designed to save energy and water and that incorporate locally sourced materials. Choosing a builder or remodeler who holds the NAHB Certified Green Professional (CGP) or Master Certified Green Professional designations is one way to find someone with the latest knowledge of these high-performance practices.

These industry professionals have studied the interplay between energy efficiency and indoor air quality, understand the principles of environmentally sensitive lot design and are trained to help their buyers make decisions to result in a home that is green as they want it to be.

Many of these professionals also turn to certification programs such as the ENERGY STAR and whole-house certification programs such as those based on the ICC National Green Building Standard (NGBS), a nationally accredited rating system that forms the foundation of their training, like our CHiP Home Program.

The result: Measurable customer satisfaction.

Released in February, the survey conducted by the firm GuildQuality showed that home owners who purchased a home certified to the NGBS are overwhelmingly likely to be glad they did.

Here’s what the study found:

· 94% would recommend a green home to a friend.
· 92% would purchase another green home.
· 71% of respondents believe that green homes are, overall, of higher quality.
· 55% knew their home may have cost more than a non-green home, but believed the benefits outweighed the cost.
· 90% were satisfied knowing they “did the right thing” in buying a green home.

These consumers were looking for a home built to provide lower utility bills, simpler maintenance and better energy efficiency—and their green homes delivered. In fact, when asked what green related aspects of their home they were least satisfied with, the overwhelming majority listed, “none.”

What does it mean when a home is certified to the National Green Building Standard? It means that the builder has met—and then exceeded—requirements that incorporate energy, resource and water efficiency, indoor environmental quality and less intrusive site development practices into the construction of the home.

Certified homes also come with a green “owner’s manual” to help you maintain your home’s high-efficiency features.

You can find a CGP or Master CGP at nahb.org/designationsdirectory, learn more about the local CHiP Home Program and contact the HBA Green Building Council at (803) 256-6238 for assistance in finding a professional to help you build or remodel your green dream home.