Milpitas North San Jose Berryessa Real Estate News

The granite counter-tops and stainless steel appliances may be nice, but how can you tell if a home is eco-friendly?  Here are some green-smart house-hunting questions to ask, courtesy of the National Home Performance Council (NHPC):

* What is the R-value of the attic insulation? (The higher the R-value, the more insulated the home.).

* Is there any insulation in the walls? (Many old homes have NO insulation.)

* Are the windows double-paned?  Are they low-e coated or Energy Star rated? (Poor quality windows could make up a third of your heating loss in the winter.)

* What is the U-factor of the windows? (The U-factor reflects the insulation ability of the entire window, not just the glass.  Look for a U-factor of .35 or lower.)

* What is the SEER rating on the air conditioner and how old is it? (The higher the SEER, the more efficient it is.  The current standard is SEER-13.)

* Has the home had a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) home energy audit? (This can provide significant information on the energy efficiency of the home and how much it will cost to heat and cool the home during the year.)

"Its hard to be a green homebuyer," said Kara Saul Rinaldi, executive director of NHPC.  "While we can see solar panels, the vital energy efficiency information about a home is often hidden behind walls, in ducts, or behind dusty systems.  The key is to know what you are looking for and ask the right questions."

To assist buyers in uncovering the clean energy facts about a home, the NHPC is encouraging Multiple Listing Services (MLS) to revise their listing criteria to include energy efficiency and renewable energy components bout each for-sale listing.