Sustainable buildings are often commercial and residential buildings designed to use available resources (water, energy, and materials) as efficiently as possible, with minimal environmental impact. These buildings create ideal conditions for healthy living and high productivity of their residents. In today’s world of expensive energy and constant climate changes—which we feel the effect of—this concept is gaining more and more importance. The synergy of the needs of tenants, government, and real estate investors will make the near future very exciting when it comes to real estate. Immense changes await us. We can all look forward to these changes because they will improve our lives. So what will green home building in NYC look like? What is the future of real estate sustainability in the years to come? In this article, we will try to give answers to these questions.
Current situation
New York City has good results regarding a green agenda and energy efficiency if we compare it to other big cities in the county. Thanks to well-organized public transport, greenhouse gas emissions related to traffic are much lower than in other places. As of 2019, the length of pedestrian routes has reached 1,375 miles, with plans for Citi Bike to cover half of the city’s population by 2024. In addition to that, recycling projects are becoming more widespread. That is why the city has a good placement on prestigious lists dealing with energy efficiency and sustainable development. On the ACEEE Scorecard ranking, New York is in second place, behind Boston, while the ENERGY STAR Top Cities ranking places it in fifth place. However, almost two-thirds of greenhouse gas emissions come from buildings, and this is the area that requires the most significant changes.
The Benefits of Green Home Building in NYC
Health
The benefits of green designs are numerous for an individual, as well as for the planet. If you decide to live in one of these buildings, know that you have made an excellent decision for your overall health. According to research, residents are less likely to suffer from allergies, respiratory diseases, and even cancer due to low exposure to toxins and other harmful materials. So, if you decide to make one of these buildings your home, we suggest you have experts by your side. Hire local NYC movers so you have professional help in the moving process.
Water Saving
Green architecture is also suitable for water efficiency, significantly reducing water waste. Nowadays, pollution worsens daily, and our environment is suffering, so anything we can do to help is more than welcome. The lack of fresh water is a severe problem in many parts of the world. Green home building in NYC also promotes rainwater capture.
Pollution Reduction
Green building uses recycled materials (green materials), preserves natural sources, and limits energy use. In most cases, the roofing and flooring are made from recycled materials, which highly benefit the environment from pollution and waste.
Plans For the Future
The problems of energy-inefficient buildings have forced city officials to enact some of the strictest building codes in the country. They also proposed very ambitious plans for the future. New York adopted a strict energy code in 2016 that requires all commercial buildings to exceed the ASHRAE 90.1-2013 standard. For residential buildings, the requirements exceed the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code. In 2019, New York City passed local law 97, which requires buildings that exceed 25,000 gross square feet to reduce carbon emissions by 40% before 2030 and 80% before 2050. About seventy percent of property owners will be ready by 2024 when the law implementation begins. But, only 30% of the buildings will meet the deadline of 2030 and the new border movement.
How to Reach the Goal
From the data above, it is easy to conclude that time is ticking and that real estate owners whose properties are subject to the law must act quickly to avoid expensive fines. To reach the goal within the given period, the owners can focus on the three fields that will bring them the best results.
Use of Energy-Efficient Equipment
Using energy-efficient equipment in a building that consumes little energy is one way to achieve the desired level of energy efficiency. The use of energy-efficient LED lights, air conditioners, and refrigerators can produce good results with relatively small investments. For example, the maintenance costs of LED lights are 75% lower than conventional ones, and they are more durable. In addition, advanced technology for light control or room heating and cooling can further reduce unnecessary energy waste.
Digitalization
Further progress in the energy efficiency of buildings is possible through the use of specialized software. The idea of a “smart house” has been around for some time, but it seems that we are only now getting technological solutions that will fully enable the implementation of this idea. Artificial intelligence and advanced sensors will allow us to connect all the systems in the buildings in an intelligent way and achieve maximum efficiency. In this way, we will be able to adjust the temperature and air quality to the current needs in the room without unnecessary energy losses. Furthermore, using “smart” technologies can reduce asset management costs by alerting us to potential problems before damage occurs. The final result is “smart buildings” that are in constant contact with the owner and can report potential issues and propose solutions.
Electricity from renewable sources
Lowering the price of photovoltaic cells and increasing their efficiency will make them an even more cost-effective solution for ensuring energy efficiency. At the same time, it fits perfectly into the plan of the city authorities that, by 2040, New York City will rely entirely on electric energy from renewable sources.
Conclusion
Green home building in NYC is the future of real estate sustainability. It doesn’t only benefit the residents of those buildings but also the environment and nature itself. This is one way to save our planet from pollution. Green architecture has become more popular on the market nowadays as well. So if you plan on making one of these buildings your home, you are making the right choice.
