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What to look for when going green for buying or selling a Sarasota home or Venice FL home? Even with rising energy costs and the fast-changing Sarasota real estate and Venice FL real estate markets, it is possible to save money and establish selling power. Much of the cost savings with a green Sarasota home or Venice FL home comes thanks to new innovative products such as spray-foam insulation, tankless water heaters, dual-pane windows and efficient cooling systems, among other features the builder used or homeowner upgraded.

Green building is finally taking off. Since 2005, about 332,900 green homes have been built in the US. But with various companies and builders touting green living and products, how does a homeowner know what to look for? Whether buying a new or existing Sarasota home or Venice FL home, buyers can turn to several resources to figure out whether claims of being green are accurate. Homes in Sarasota and Venice FL homes that are green are designed, constructed and operated using resources that have less of a negative impact on the environment. Such homes use less energy and water, renewable materials, right-sized heating and cooling systems and native landscaping.

Buyers can verify whether a Sarasota home or Venice FL home has been certified through one of many green building programs including the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system; and programs for new and existing homes through Energy Star, a joint program of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy.

U.S. Green Building Council

Energy Star

Each group provides standards, some more stringent than others, for certification. The organizations also provide recommendations to help make a Sarasota home or Venice FL home more energy-efficient, even if the consumer doesn't seek certification. Even if a home isn't officially certified, consumers can check for basic energy-saving features on the above links.

Look for homes in Sarasota or homes in Venice with 24-inch overhangs to reduce heat, 53-gallon rain barrels that collect rain to reduce water use, local and regional materials that save fuel for shipping and special paint and finishes that emit lower levels of organic pollutants. Outlined below are a few additional things to seek for or change to go green and make improvements that boost the energy efficiency of your Sarasota real estate or Venice FL real estate property.

• Keep the attic of your Venice FL home or Sarasota home cool with proper or added insulation.
• Caulk windows and baseboards; weather-strip doors; install foam covers at light switches and outlets.
• Replace old windows with new double-pane windows for the Florida climate.  This can save you up to $400 a year in energy costs.  Stop your energy cost from going out the windows of your Venice FL home or home in Sarasota.
• Shade windows that receive a lot of direct sun. Add solar screens, window films, and awnings to your Sarasota real estate property or Venice FL home.
• Look for improved or add landscape features that cover the west side of the property which is important to naturally reduce energy, such as shade trees, arbors, plants and awnings.
• Install and use ceiling fans in rooms you occupy the most, even kitchens and baths.
• Paint the exterior of your Venice FL home or Sarasota real estate property a light color to reflect heat. Paint interior light colors to reflect light and reduce need for hot artificial lights.
• Replace shower heads and faucets in your Sarasota home or Venice FL home with low-flow heads.  Low-flow shower heads can save you between 10% to 16% of water heating costs and reduce your water usage by 20,000 gallons per year.
• Get your heating and cooling equipment serviced regularly. Change the filters in your Venice FL home or Sarasota home regularly.
• Go fluorescent.  You can save $35 annually if you replace just four standard incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs which use 66 percent less energy.  Also, fluorescent bulbs last 8 to 12 times longer than incandescent bulbs. Replace your light bulbs and reduce greenhouse emissions from power plants.

You will find that taking action on just a few of the guidelines suggested will greatly improve your experience of selling or buying a new home in Sarasota or Venice FL real estate. Going green with your Sarasota or Venice home purchase or sale can maximize your selling power, improving your resale value, save you money and help you live better. You will feel good knowing what you are doing is helping the environment.