Living Green
Just as recycling gradually became a part of our everyday lives, “green” features in Chicago homes are becoming more and more common, thanks to demand from homebuyers who want to address their concern for the environment in their day-to-day living.
Encouraging this trend toward green building is the United States Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system, which certifies both residential and commercial buildings for meeting environmentally responsible design and construction standards.
Although LEED-certified residences are still somewhat rare, most developers agree that the eco-friendly building techniques and features endorsed by the Council will soon be the standard in new-construction homes. In the meantime, homebuyers in Chicago can choose from plentiful housing options that offer many of the same features that contribute to LEED certification, such as:
A location near public transportation
Building materials containing recycled content
Renewable energy sources such as solar power
Energy-efficient windows, appliances and heating and cooling systems
Plumbing fixtures that reduce overall water use
Rapidly renewing or recycled materials for interior finishes, such as bamboo flooring, wool carpet, and countertops made from recycled metal or glass
Low-VOC paints, carpets adhesives and sealants, which limit emission of volatile organic compounds and thereby promote a healthier indoor environment
Native vegetation in landscaped areas or on a green roof
A landscape irrigation system that recycles rainwater
Facilities for storage and collection of recyclables
If green features are important to you, talk to your @properties agent. We’ll help you find a housing option that fits your needs.
-from www.atproperties.com
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