Green Real Estate

In this day and age, it is simply not economical to consume unlimited energy resources. Costs for electricity, natural gas and heating fuel are climbing at a consistent rate, and show no signs of slowing down. Furthermore, the traditional methods of building maintenance and upkeep have become obsolete as technology is changing and our social responsibilities demand that corporations take a proactive step toward energy efficiency and green construction.

Those who live in residential neighborhoods have already begun shifting the way they consume energy – including electricity and fuel. For the past few years, statistics have shown that green products, from efficient fluorescent light bulbs to major energy efficient appliances, have been selling more often as people want to do their part to help the environment while saving money in the process. These same small steps can be done on a larger, commercial scale and achieve similar results.

Building managers who operate a traditional facility can begin thinking about their building’s carbon footprint and the type of lifestyle it promotes for the people who live or work in or around it. At first, the simple step of switching to energy efficient fluorescent light bulbs can be one way of reducing energy consumption, and reducing monthly energy expenses. From their, a building manager may explore the possibility of installing modern appliances that use a fraction of the electricity and energy of older, non energy-efficient appliances. Windows and doors can be replaced with models that are highly insulated, ensuring that the building’s heating and cooling system runs more effectively. New heating, cooling and ventilation systems can drastically improve indoor air quality and give the inhabitants of the building allergen-free air to breath.

On a larger scale, companies who strive to be proactive and drastically reduce outside energy consumption can install energy-generating devices that will allow the building to be self-sufficient. Solar panels and wind turbines will generate electricity for use inside the facility. In many cases, solar panels and wind turbines can create more than enough electricity – meaning an environmentally conscious, green building can help generate power for its entire community.

There are many steps one can take to improve building performance efficiency, small and large. Working with a green building consultant, a building manager can decide the right path for their facility and implement better maintenance techniques. CMMS implementation can greatly reduce costs and ensure building performance is running at the highest level of efficiency.

Green building consultants have expert knowledge on the most up-to-date green building techniques and can recommend energy efficient products and green product manufacturers. Remodeling and existing building or constructing a new facility with the help of a green building consultant will guarantee that it is designed in the most energy efficient manner and promotes a healthy lifestyle for those who live or work in it.

Green building materials help homeowners save on energy, resulting in tremendous savings in the power bills. Apart from increased energy efficiency, home owners also benefit from increased flexibility on count of maintenance costs too. Improved design flexibility is also another reason why people go for green building materials for their homes.

Here are 4 criteria for you to choose green building materials for your homes:

1. Resource efficiency – Resource efficiency can be targeted by making use of the products that meet the below mentioned metrics.

• Natural and renewable – Basically, preference is given to materials that come from sustainable managed resources and are certified by an independent third party body.
• Manufacturing processes’ efficiency – The products that are produced with the help of resource and energy efficient process, take precedence in the final choice.
• Local availability – One of the main benefits of using green building materials is that they are and should be locally available.
• · Durability – The materials used in constructing such buildings must last longer than other conventional materials used for construction purposes.

2. Improvement in air quality – Products or materials that meet the below mentioned criteria, should be used.

• Non-toxic content – When used, the materials shouldn’t emit any toxic wastes, either in solid, liquid or gaseous forms.
• The products should also have minimum emissions of volatile organic compounds. Such materials should be able to maximize or optimize energy efficiency and in the process, should also reduce chemical emissions.
• The products and the materials should be able to resist moisture or any unforeseen moisture attacks.

3. Energy efficiency is an important metric to look out for, which can be fulfilled by selecting building materials that help in the reduction of water consumption in buildings and other associated facilities.

4. The building materials used in green buildings construction should be able to reduce water consumption in buildings.

Constructing green buildings is clearly a good idea for developers and home owners to work with, especially if they wish to save a lot of energy. These buildings will definitely help in conserving energy and improving health and productivity, but that can only be achieved if the right building materials are used. By following the criteria mentioned above, developers could look forward to selecting the right building materials for a green building design.

Going green is the trend these days since the world is facing a lot of environmental problems, specifically global warming. Electricity that comes from fossil fuels contributes a lot to global warming and one way to address this issue is by using solar energy. Even governments are now encouraging homeowners to utilize solar energy by offering grants, it’s a must for homes and it’s not just for rich people.

The government are supporting going green through grants and loans, aside from that they are also giving incentives. For instance, if you spend around $20,000 on system installation, they will give you a 30% credit. This means that your next tax bill decrease by 30% of $20,000 which is $6,000. The credit can also be extended to following year as long as the amount is covering fully.

DIY kits are widely available in online stores and perhaps in local stores. All you need to do is to shop around and fine suitable system that can work for your home. Once you install the system, it’s needs minimum maintenance. Make sure you clean and clear it properly, you can always consult a professional that knows a great deal about solar power system and have it checked annually. Most homeowners do little work on their system and this is a great advantage.

Sunlight is available for everyone and since fossil fuels are depleting, it can be an excellent option. You simply need to invest once and after that you will benefit as long as the system is working properly. Your electric bills will be reduced, you can use the system for all your outdoor needs as well as indoor as long as the inverter is big enough.

Solar panels are one of the most popular systems used today. If blackouts are common in your area, it would really help a lot if you install solar energy. That way, even if other homes don’t have electricity, your home can still have electricity. Most manufacturers also provide warranty and so you can expect the panels to be durable, you won’t hear any noise since the panels are working quietly while producing the needed energy.

Most of all, you will be helping in saving the environment be deceasing pollution. The power system can last for decades with proper maintenance and care. If you’re interested to go green, don’t hesitate to install a solar power for a home. This is the best time to make a choice that can have a significant impact to the world. After the installation of the system, you can enjoy a continuous supply of green electricity.

Go green with eco friendly materials for your house. These must be sustainable materials used to build your house. Build your house or building while being benign with the Mother Nature too. Do not affect the environment, be it land, water or air. Burning of fossil fuels should be minimised so that it does not increase the carbon di oxide levels in the sky. We are hunting for ways to alternatively use eco friendly materials not to cause any harm to the environment.

Reduction of natural resource’s consumption is essential to conserve nature. Whatever you use must have little or no impact on the earth. There should be no wastage of natural resources and must not create any need for renewal of resources. You must buy appliances for home which is energy efficient. Save on your electricity bills by picking up energy efficient building material.

These buildings will help you save on the over all costs of your house. You buy materials which are priced at a lesser cost and they are eco friendly too. It also gets some government funds at subsidized rates to build an eco friendly house. This focuses more on cutting down of wastage and provides energy efficient buildings which saves the natural resources from getting depleted. Appliances that you install at home should be highly efficient as they help you save on energy and power. It will involve less or no cost of maintenance.

Products which are post recycled are more environment friendly than others. There is more demand for products which can be recycled for home. By recycling it you cause less damage to the environment. This way you go green by using environment friendly products.

With recent rises in electricity prices in South Africa, the country has been paying more and more attention on the implementation of solar power in households and workplaces. A new luxury hotel which has just opened up in Johannesburg has set the tone for the hospitality industry and implemented extensive measures to make use of solar panel power in their hotel.

The hotel in the spotlight is the DaVinci Hotel which is opening up in the upmarket area of Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton, Johannesburg. The Legacy Hotel Group, which owns the luxury hotel worked in partnership with Kayema Energy and numerous international Solar power experts in order to design the substantially large and complicated solar powered water heating system.

The solar powered water heating system consists of a massive 117 flat solar panel collectors that will create enough hot water to enough to supply hot water for 138 rooms. The solar powered hot water system, which has the capacity to warm up 30 000 litres of water, will result in a 60% reduced energy bill for the hotel and substantially decrease the carbon footprint of the hotel.

The solar power system is not the only green initiative which has been implemented by the hotel. Other initiatives include a system that completely cuts electricity to a room that is not occupied at any time, the use of LED lighting all over the hotel, water saving shower heads and the use of non harmful building materials. The hotel’s main restaurant named the Maximillien, is also designed and built with energy and environmental issues in mind. The restaurant floor is made from bamdoo, cleaning materials in the kitchen are all non-toxic and environmentally friendly and all other building materials used in appliances etc. are made from harmless eco-friendly materials.

Kudos must go out to the Legacy Hotel Group and everyone else who was involved in the building of this solar powered hotel. May many more households, commercial properties and hotels follow in their footsteps! Hopefully the government in South Africa will also join in the trend and start making appropriate rewards for people and places that make use of solar power.

Have you ever wondered which the best place for investing in real estate is? If so, there’s no need to wonder anymore! In Costa Rica you can find everything you need for your business. This country offers many advantages which will make selling real estate the easiest job there is.

First of all, CR is a very peaceful country. Because of this, you will find a lot less crime than in many other countries. This makes it so that other people feel comfortable buying property in this country. They don’t have to worry so much about violence and other negative aspects.

Second, there is a low taxation policy. In many other countries, people have to pay very high taxes, and many times in a single year. However, in this country, this is totally different. Taxes are paid only once a year, and they are relatively low. Nobody likes paying high taxes, which means that people would be eager to pay Costa Rica’s fees.

Moreover, currency, which is called the Costa Rican Colon (CRC), is very stable, which means that your clients’ investments will be safe. However, if people do not want to use this money, they also have the option of using US Dollars, since most business places in Costa Rica accept them.

The proximity to major US cities is another factor that makes the real estate market in Costa Rica easier. In this country, it’s very easy and quick to visit any of these places, which is very important, since many people, especially those who are retired, like to visit touristic places which these cities offer.

It is also important to mention the fact that this country is an ecological paradise. In this country, you can find an ecological diversity that exists in very few countries. CR is home to many different types of animals (some living in no other country), active and inactive volcanoes, several different types of forests, and much more. All these facts can greatly influence a buyer’s decision to buy land or not. Many foreigners would love to be able to experience all of these things.

Furthermore, here, you can find many beautiful beaches with ocean view villas, and they can offer you a beautiful ocean view hotel. In fact, many of these beaches have black sand, which is a characteristic that many foreigners love, since in many other countries this doesn’t exist. Moreover, most of these beaches are very clean, and some of them even go unused.

Another important aspect is that in this country you can invest in buying or constructing you own eco-lodge. These are great for anyone who wants to live with the commodities of a house, but at the same time want to experience nature at its fullest. Who wouldn’t want to have that kind of experience?

Finally, since real estate isn’t controlled in Costa Rica, you will have no problem starting your business there. All you need is enough publicity for people to become aware of what you offer.

Going green in the office should be good for the staff and for the company but despite this, many firms will struggle to implement green initiatives unless they have a specific policies in place and a member of staff prepared to champion the green cause.

This is because making changes requires time and effort, as well as in some cases an initial outlay of capital, whereas doing nothing, even if that means higher ongoing costs, is often the easy option.

If you have the ability to make and implement decisions that can have a positive (or negative) green impact on your office you should be considering the environmental impact of those decisions as part of the decision making process.

This does not mean that if you are not in a position to authorise changes within your company that you can not initiate these changes, although it does mean you may have to work harder to make an impact by assessing where improvements can be made and making the case to those who do have the power to make changes.

As with many things, simple steps can have a large positive impact. Two areas that can have immediate green advantages without significant cost expenditure are in the areas of recycling and energy use.

Rubbish and recycling collections may be organised by your company or through the building management and whilst changes to the provision of waste collection will require cooperation from the current provider, changes will also need the involvement of staff and your daily cleaners. Many refuse collection services now work on the basis of collecting office rubbish in the categories of general recycling and non recyclable waste. There is usually a cost advantage in sorting waste with the recycling being cheaper to dispose of than rubbish that goes to landfill, so this could be a good starting point to introduce a change within your office, but it will also mean that staff need to be committed enough to sort rubbish into the respective types. One way to make the task of sorting rubbish easier is by removing the traditional under desk waste bins and providing central refuse stations within the office, so that staff have to make a conscious decision in disposing of their rubbish.

Energy use is another area where small changes can have cost advantages. Any refurbishment programme should incorporate energy saving elements like sensors on lights and energy efficient equipment. Even if there is no planned capital spend replacing old bulbs with energy efficient ones and reducing the temperature of the heating in winter or turning down the air conditioning in summer can have a positive green impact with little or no cost implications to implement.

It is a widely known fact that the world is made up of finite resources, and that we need to make greener choices in order to help the generations ahead of us. But it is a lesser known fact that our homes and offices are actually a major contributor to the problem. By building greener houses, we can reduce the negative effect we have on the environment immensely, and feel better in the process. There are many ways that this can be done cheaply and easily.

Our homes alone consume approximately 25% of the world’s energy, and are consequently responsible for around 19% of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. When considered that this is solely from our houses, and doesn’t even touch on the statistic concerning our offices and skyscrapers, the need to build green becomes apparent.

Most people’s reason for not building green is because of the widespread opinion that it is costly. While this may have been true many years ago, it is simply untrue today. In fact, it is often times more cost effective to build green because you are expending less energy by working with the environment around you, instead of against it. By building your home to receive better natural light, you minimize the need for electric light and have the benefit of the feel of sunlight in your home. By using materials such as protective coating and non toxic coating for the paint on your house, it improves air circulation, ventilation, and longevity. By building your home to last, you are saving yourself a huge amount of money that you may spend in the future to fix arising problems. By using these environmentally friendly resources, you are saving money, and you can feel good about doing it.

Materials for the actual building of your home can be green if they are made of renewable resources, rather than nonrenewable resources. These are surprisingly easy to find, and are of course, better for the environment. For example, using wood harvested from sustainable resources is encouraged. Materials that have been manufactured in certified ways that minimize waste and reduce energy consumption are also readily available.

The greenest type of house to build currently is called a roundhouse. A roundhouse is simply a structure that has round exterior walls and a round roof, though some come to a point instead of being perfectly rounded. While you still have a considerable amount of space on the inside, the exterior is green because there is actually less square footage to the walls because of the shape. By using less materials, you are being more eco-friendly. The less exposed surface area allows you to work with nature, and not against it. Roundhouses are also designed in such a way to do very well in extreme weather, like wind storms. Because there is not ever a flat surface to build up pressure against, they are far more energy efficient and less drafty. They are also generally known for their expansive windows, which contribute by allowing in massive amounts of natural light. On top of all of that, they are very attractive homes!

If the cost and logistical benefits of building a green home still haven’t convinced you, consider this statistic. Studies consistently show that views, natural light and healthier air can significantly improve your productivity. Building green is better for your health, and your efficiency. By improving the environment, you are also improving yourself.

People all over the world are making are generating income by selling excess solar electric power to the grid. Solar brokers and solar hedge funds are offering home and real estate owners the deal of a lifetime. These solar power and solar energy brokers and funds are willing to pay for and buy the solar panels in full with zero cost to the home and land owners.

The real estate owners then place these solar panels on their unused and vacant land paid for by the brokers. The solar panels create free alternative energy that is then sold back to the grid for a profit.

The land owners keep a nice portion of the profits, sometimes up to 50%. A true win-win situation for both real estate owners and solar broker since the land owner gets to generate a profit without any investment, and the solar brokers get to use your unused land to generate a profit as well. The only people losing out are the unfriendly oil exporting countries. Let me make that a win-win-lose situation, but in a good way!

The cool part is that anyone is eligible. There are no requirements for a land owner to start making money selling solar power to the grid!

We have connection with over 75 solar brokers and solar hedge funds waiting to place free solar panels on your unused vacant land. Again there is no cost at all for the home owner. This is a great additional income for the land owner that owns commercial or residential land that he/she has no use for. Why not used vacant and unused real estate to generate additional income?

Singapore is often seen as a leader in sustainable development in the region. Malaysia, for instance, developed the Green Building Index (GBI) after much consultation with Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority (BCA).

In June this year, Singapore will host the World Cities Summit, which promotes ‘sustainable and liveable cities’.

This event, will no doubt, position Singapore as a serious leader in promoting green technology in the region.

But is Singapore really a model for sustainable development?

On a micro level, it appears to be the case.

In the local real estate industry, the BCA has done a good job in regulating the property market by taking the lead.

For example, it has required all new public buildings and those undergoing major retrofitting works to meet the minimum standards of environmental sustainability that is equivalent to the Green Mark Certified level under its First Green Building Masterplan.

It has also required all existing public sector buildings to achieve the Green mark Gold Plus Award by 2020.

In addition, the BCA has continued to recognise developers who had gone green via its yearly BCA Awards – often dubbed the “Oscars” of Singapore’s building and construction industry.

This has helped push sustainable development standards higher as evidenced by this year’s awards ceremony.

New milestones achieved in the property market
Major Singaporean developers continue to make new strides in sustainable development as evidenced by the plethora of awards given at this year’s BCA Awards. This year the BCA handed out a whopping 159 awards.

CapitaLand won seven awards in total, four of which were for its residential developments.

The Interlace and its upcoming development at Farrer Road were conferred Green Mark Gold Plus awards for their green features, which range from good building design to the use of solar panels and water-efficient fittings.

In addition, RiverEdge and Varsity Park Condominium each won the Construction Excellence Award, which recognises construction projects which have demonstrated performance excellence.

CDL also achieved yet another industry milestone – its luxury 240-room W Singapore Sentosa Cove attained the first BCA Green Mark Platinum Award for a new hotel development.

For residential developments, Cube 8, Tree House, Volari and the W Singapore Sentosa Cove won four Green Mark Platinum Awards.

CDL also received three Construction Excellence Awards, two Design and Engineering Safety Awards and two Universal Design Awards.

CDL’s City Square Residences which won the Design and Engineering Safety Awards, was cited by the BCA for building a 126-metre wide diaphragm wall
to mitigate the risks in constructing three levels of basement car parks under difficult soil conditions.

Green controversies
On a macro level, however, Singapore has been under the spotlight on environmental issues but for all the wrong reasons.

For instance, Singapore has frequently been cited as having one of the highest per capita carbon emissions globally by the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

The EIA which provides energy statistics to the United States government, factors in data such as carbon emissions from bunker fuel, aviation and refining processes.

In May, Global Witness, an environmental organisation that exposes the corrupt exploitation of natural resources and international trade system, released a damaging report which alleged that Singapore was importing Cambodian sand illegally and without regard for the environment.

The city-state was also recently named as the worst offender in a study done by two universities.

The study, which was jointly undertaken by the National University of Singapore (NUS) study and the University of Adelaide, ranked Singapore as the worst environmental offender among 179 countries.

According to the study, Singapore has seen it lose 90 percent of its forest, 67 percent of its birds, about 40 percent of its mammals and 5 per cent of its amphibians and reptiles.

The Ministry for National Development and Ministry for the Environment and Water Resources had so far refuted both allegations respectively.

In the case of the Global Witness report, the Singapore government had stated that it has not been given official notice of the Cambodian sand ban.

Global Witness, on the other hand, had argued that the fact that Singapore is the main market for Cambodian sand and that the BCA had publicly commented on it in May 2009 suggests that the Singapore government is aware of the ban.

Global Witness and the two universities said they are standing by their statement.

While the verdict, is still out, perhaps the Singapore government could do more to show that it is really practicing what it preaches.