A greener American dream | Opinion
Jade Anderson , with Axium Solar, helps to remove solar panels before an inspection at a home on Chester Drive in Plano.The housing market has gone green. Buyers are increasingly asking for more environmentally friendly homes — and the real estate industry is answering their call.
Homebuilders are becoming more attuned to these evolving priorities. A 2020 Dodge Data & Analytics study found that one in three single-family homebuilders said 50% or more of current projects are “green builds.” These builds include design features, materials, and construction processes that minimize a new home’s environmental impact.
In other cases, agents may need to provide more in-depth counsel — say, filling buyers in on the particulars about state and federal tax credits that are available for solar installation. These credits can ultimately net buyers thousands of dollars. Real estate agents are also advocating for green land use and zoning rules that incentivize compact, mixed-use development in hubs like Austin and San Antonio, as well as smaller suburbs across the Lone Star State. In day-to-day life, that means schools around the corner from the home and, within a few blocks’ radius, your pick of local markets, cafes and shops.