A Green House for Better Property Investment

Nope, thank goodness I don’t actually mean that literally! Don’t rush out and buy green paint thinking it’s the next big "in thing".

I use the term Green in the environment friendly way. A Green House; a living space that considers the environment, the cost of living, the effect that urbanisation has on the environment and does it’s best to minimise those effects.



These worries are no longer reserved for hippies and tree huggers. They are now the worries of many property investors. A recent poll by a well known South African mortgage company has shown some surprising results. Just over FIFTY percent of buyers will not consider purchasing a property unless it has made some obvious steps to considering the environment and the cost of living.



This might come as a surprise but an honest look at how our world is changing should open your eyes to the idea that this kind of movement was inevitable.



The media is constantly harassing the airwaves with ideas of global warming and the coming ice age (two different extremes brought about by the same thing – human pollution and abuse of the world we live in) It is an obvious move for anyone living on this planet to start demanding a certain degree of care for the earth. And so we find ourselves in a position were business, property investment, is effected!



So how do we go about Greening our investment?

It is a lot easier than you think, and before you comment on the costs of making these changes to your property consider again that over fifty percent of buyers won’t consider purchase without these changes having been made. Even if you are not planning on selling any time soon – these changes make a difference to your open pocket in the long run bringing down the cost of living dramatically (not to mention doing your part for the environment)



1) Solar Panels

A great way to use natural resources, the sun, to create energy that can be used in your home. Free electricity! The solar panel will greatly reduce your electricity costs.



2) Water-wise Gardens

Planting plants that consume less water and strive without much attention needed will reduce your water consumption and the time needed to maintain your garden space.



3) Fire Place

Reduces the cost of running heaters throughout winter to keep your home warm AND adds a pleasing visual to any home.



4) Insulation

Keeping your home cool in summer and warm in winter this is a must for any green home.





Catherine is a contributing writer for bussiness premises. Visit office premises cape town cbd for more information.