The face of the real estate industry has changed over the fast few years. These changes are primarily due to the changing preferences of home buyers. Today, it is very common to see advertisements from real estate agents and brokers highlighting that homes on their lists are classified as eco-friendly or environmental friendly. Sounds good because you could be helping the environment but what are the characteristics of green real estate that you should look for when you are buying your own house.

Insulations are made from recycled materials

Home insulation is necessary because it affects the hotness and coldness of home’s interior on given times of the day. Insulations have gone far from bearing the color of pink because they have learned to be greener or eco-friendlier. Common house insulations made from recycled materials include old shredded denims, hemp, and cotton. These materials are known to have reduced noise. They also have sealing capabilities. A top-notch choice among green home buyers is insulation made from icynene – derived from used castor oil. It forms spongy-cake substance which can reduce a home’s energy bill to as much as 50%.

Furniture close to nature

When buying a green home, you should also consider the furniture that composes the home’s interior. From tables, chairs, cabinets, shelves, and other fixtures – you should ensure that they are made from sustainable materials. For instance, there are tables made from FSC-certified bamboos and reclaimed teak. Consider the space-saving values of chairs. There are types that can be folded and stored flat when not in use. There are also cabinets and shelves made from corks or the renewable barks of common hardwood trees.

Availability of solar water heater

Water heater is a great necessity in American homes. However, it contributes to a higher energy bill when in regular operation. Green real estate homes have found a comfortable solution to this need with the installation of solar water heaters. With this feature preinstalled in the home you are going to buy, you don’t have to be afraid of paying high energy bill. Solar water heaters utilize the heat of the sun to kill the coldness of the water in shower rooms, bathrooms, and bath tubs. Solar energy-operated water heaters have shelf lives of about 15 years.

Water-saving bathroom, toilet, and kitchen fixtures

There are many plumbing products and fixtures like faucets, toilet bowls, and shower heads that claim they are water-savers. However, it is difficult to prove such claims until you have used them. Some of them were just mere advertisements of the respective manufacturers but the fixtures are actually water-wasters. To be sure that the house you are going to buy is true to its sense of being eco-friendly, look for the WaterSense label on them. The label is an assurance from the EPA that the products will help you save billion gallons of water during the lifetime of the fixture.

If the house you are going to buy has these features, then it is a certified green real estate home. The house will not only offer comfortable living and convenience but it will also be one that is contributor to help save the environment and its resources.