A Greener House : The Sustainable Property Investor's Guide to Buying, Building and Renovating

**How green should you go?** If you would like to make a positive impact on the environment but are concerned about the financial outlay, __A Greener House__ is for you. Property experts Richard Reed and Sara Wilkinson will show you how to decide which sustainable measures are suited to your property, and evaluate the cost implications of installing them. You'll learn how to design a new home that exceeds the highest energy-efficiency ratings available, protect your property from obsolescence and outdating, and evaluate market trends in your neighbourhood. If you own property and would like to increase its value, you can't afford to ignore sustainability. This book will show you how to reduce your environmental footprint while making the most of your greatest financial asset. We all agree that we can't continue to consume the world's resources at the rate that we are now. We must start living more sustainably - and what better place to start than at home? Most of us want to play our part, but we're put off by financial concerns. But what if the cost of building or remodelling a greener house could be recovered in the value of your home when you sell? "Sustainability is now an integral part of society and the built environment. Unfortunately many home owners and home-buyers are unaware of the relationship between sustainability and value, especially with regard to the potential added value to their home. Payback periods can be different depending on factors such as the initial capital outlay and the levels of depreciation and obsolescence, as well as savings made (if any) to the running costs of the home."--Provided by publisher