Green Homes FAQ


 

Does a green home look different than a conventional house?

A green home is more about how a home is built than how it looks. Green is energy efficiency and forward thinking design combined with smart construction and the right materials. You can build a house out of grass and call it green, but a green home can look every bit as good as a conventional home. Check out Om Development's newest green home. This green home has the same high level finishes as a conventional home, but the costs of heating and cooling are drastically lower.

Does it cost more to build a green home?

It depends on the scope of the project. For example, the cost to remodel a basic room or upgrade a kitchen would be close to conventional remodeling costs. However, if you are building from the ground up or planning a gut rehab, there is a lot more involved when it comes to design, materials and construction. As a result, the initial cost is higher. The difference is made up over time: i.e., a 4 bedroom, single family green home offers a homeowner between $5,000-$8,000 a year in energy savings. Interested in building green? Not sure where to start? Our agents and will help you get connected you with the right people. agent@omrealtygroup.com

Do I have to sacrifice the finishes I like to go green?

It is more likely that you will expand the possibilities and savings by going green.  Every year, manufacturers are introducing more green products to their lines. If you're planning a project, we can help you find some highly functional, green alternatives that look great!  Send us an email at products@omrealtygroup.com  and tell us the type of product or room your working on in the subject line. We'll get right back to you...

Does it cost more to maintain a green home?

In fact, it costs less. The home has many more quality controls to ensure greater efficiency.  Also, things like a balanced HVAC system, storm water management, natural landscaping, and several other factors help reduce the wear and tear on your home, thus, saving you money. Plus green home is energy efficient so you save lots of money on utilities.

How much money will I save by going green?

This depends on the choices you make when building a home.  We believe that it's most valuable to focus on the structure of the building - because that's where most waste occurs. The finishes don't save you as much money, but can increase your indoor air quality resulting in better health. Our sister company recently built a home that will save the homeowner $5000-$8000 in utilities per year. Plus they'll receive tax credits.

Are green homes a short term trend?

Green is a long term trend - eventually all homes will be green. Why? Because it's the best interest of everyone to reduce energy consumption, save money and help the environment.

How many green homes are in Chicago?

The short answer is several dozen and growing. In 2008 Om Realty Group will be involved with over 20 units. We are also approaching all the developers in Chicago to allow us to post there project on our website, so that we can have a comprehensive list of all the Green Chicago has to offer.

What exactly is a green roof?

A green roof is any roof that has a system to keep plant life on the roof spaces. However, this isn't as simple as planting seeds on a roof.  The most relevant system for Chicago's environment is a green sedum flat roof. It is a native plant that requires very little or no maintenance and has several key benefits such as trapping storm water, reducing dust in the air, lowering the roof temperature, and curbing Heat Island Effect. These systems can be expensive, but as technology improves, prices will decrease. Note: these systems often require strengthening roof structure to handle the added weight.