Green Real Estate

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Hasson Company Realtors is poised on the leading edge of the industry when it comes to green real estate and sustainability of Portland homes. We are committed to providing our clients with access to the necessary resources to help them make educated decisions when purchasing homes that exemplify the green lifestyle.

Our Green Team provides their clients with superior knowledge and skills when it comes to sustainable housing in Oregon and Washington.

What is green real estate?

As with many industries these days, the latest revolution in real estate revolves around sustainability.

Green homes offer a broad array of benefits to homeowners. From the inside out, these homes are more energy efficient. They also boast increased water conservation and improved indoor air quality. During construction, green homes leverage more environmentally-friendly materials and reduced construction waste.

Third-party programs like Earth Advantage, ENERGY STAR and the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) have established rating systems and certification requirements that encourage these green building practices. These certifications assure homeowners that their family's health and the health of the environment are better protected, while saving them money on energy, water and transportation bills.

How green is your home?

From a home's air quality, energy efficiency and water usage to construction materials and environmental responsibility, green can mean a variety of things. Take a look at this sustainable checklist to determine your home's shade of green. You can also contact the Earth Advantage Institute for your Energy Performance Score, which is a home energy rating system similar to the miles-per-gallon (MPG) rating for the auto industry. The Energy Trust of Oregon will assess the efficiency of your home for free and let you know where you can improve your home’s energy performance. In some cases, Energy Trust of Oregon also provides cash incentives to help homeowners complete green-minded upgrades.

What is the value of building green?

Building green is a simpler way of referring to the construction of a high performance, energy efficient structure. A certified green building is one that is well engineered for energy efficiency, is designed to last longer, avoid maintenance issues, and that uses sustainable materials to avoid indoor air toxins. A sustainably built high performance structure also uses resources wisely, including water and land. Green homes also have a smaller footprint and are thus, more tightly constructed and require less energy to heat and cool. A certified green home or commercial building offers value in many ways. Most important, a certified structure can provide a homeowner or developer with peace of mind. You can have confidence that an independent expert, such as an Earth Advantage Institute technician, has verified that your home is performing to its highest potential and offers a healthier environment for you and your family.

So what does this mean for you?

In a world that is ever-evolving in its eco-consciousness, it is important to take action. Your new home or building is an investment, and certification can offer you personal satisfaction. On the surface, a green-certified building may appear quite similar to conventional code-built structures, but within the shell there’s a significant difference. Green building goes beyond energy efficiency. Not only are green homes specifically designed to function efficiently, they also provide quantifiable benefits to the environment. A properly constructed building will have a tight envelope that keeps the warm or cool air in and the drafts out, while ensuring that you have plenty of fresh healthy air. This can mean more enjoyment of your living or work space while reducing the amount of energy typically used to heat or cool your home.

Related Information

Sustainable Checklist

How do you know what is considered green? What should you look for? This checklist will help you identify what truly defines a green home.

Green-Certified Properties

Search here for environmentally friendly properties with features like energy-efficient appliances, solar panels, rainwater collection systems and more.