The benefits of green condo living
Many condominiums in Metro Manila nowadays have to combat pollution.
Nowadays, the choices for condominium abound in Metro Manila. While price and location may be your primary deciding factors, you should also consider the environmental impact of the building.
For one, you will end up living in a more beautiful home. Beyond aesthetics, however, there are numerous benefits when you choose to live in a green building. Here are some worth thinking about when choosing your future residence.
Better indoor air quality
Buildings designed with green features literally provide residents a breath of fresh air.
As many of today’s condominiums are smacked in the middle of polluted cities, it’s healthier for you and your family to live in a green environment, albeit a man-made one.
Ample ventilation and light will reduce your electricity bills.
When looking at a condominium, check if the building has a common area planted with trees, a vertical garden, or at the very least, a balcony where you can grow potted plants. While such buildings may cost a bit more than those offering only basic features, your investment would yield a good return in the future in the form of your health.
Energy savings
As many green buildings incorporate power-saving features such as solar panels, you’ll end up saving on your electricity bills in the long run.
To determine if your building of choice will give you energy savings, check out if it features accessible windows,alternative energy sources, and proper insulation. These elements, among others, will allow you to make a selection between artificial and natural sources of power, light, heat and cooling.
Water savings
If you were one of the thousands of Filipinos who suffered water shortage last summer, you know how difficult it is to live without running water.
Therefore, when it comes to your apartment, make sure that your building contributes to the solution and doesn’t add to the problem. If your building is LEED-certified, the certification pretty much guarantees that it conserves water. If it’s not, check with the condominium’s current residents if they frequently experience plumbing problems. A building with minimal cases of leaks and burst pipes wastes less water.
Features such as a rainwater collection system and greywater recycling are likewise beneficial, but aren’t that common yet in the Philippines. If your building has any of these features, consider yourself lucky.
Lower temperature variations
A green building uses environment-friendly materials which offer lower temperature variations. One example of such material is pre-cast concrete. This material uses about 30 to 40 percent energy less than bricks and other traditional resources. When your building is constructed with this, you can rest assured that your home will be a comfortable place to live in.
Even if you live in the middle of the city, you can still live healthy in a green building.
Your home won’t turn into an oven during the summer, and won’t become a freezer during the colder months of the year.
Durability of construction
While green construction tends to costs more than the traditional way during the initial purchase, its long-term savings make up for the difference in price. If your building is made with green materials, it means that they are sustainable and built to last. Their suitability to the site and proximity of sources have been considered in your building’s design. This means that even if something gets broken, you’ll be able to easily source out a replacement or ask for a repair.
To determine if your building is made of sustainable materials, research on whether the materials used to construct it are suited to its location.
That means if your new home features an all-glass façade in the middle of a concrete jungle, it might not offer the best experience for you in terms of comfort and longevity.
Less risks for illnesses
A green building will consider environment-friendly finishes such as low VOC paints and adhesives. These materials will keep you from getting asthma and other respiratory ailments. This is also applicable when your building implements a non-toxic pest control system and other natural forms of maintenance.
A green building not only helps the environment but also keeps you healthy and comfortable.
When healthy materials and systems are put in place, you can be rest assured that your family will have less risks of falling sick because of your home. A condominium designed with green intentions will prevent its residents from getting the Sick Building syndrome, which is often caused by inadequate ventilation and exposure to toxic substances.
Increased home value over time
If your building proves to be environmentally efficient over time, that means its residents will enjoy a long period of comfortable and healthy living.
The value of the property will definitely rise, and your initial investment can balloon exponentially as time progresses. Not only will you reap the health benefits of a green home, your bank account will earn as well if you decide to sell it in the future.
Considering all these advantages, suffice to say it is essential to live in a condominium that is environmentally-friendly. A green building will not only offer you a beautiful home, it can also help you build a healthy and comfortable lifestyle with your loved ones.
So when you choose your new home, consider its impact on the environment. You’ll not only be assuring your family of a bright and healthy future, but you’ll also be making the world a better place to live in for others.
Sources:
https://iccpropertymanagement.com; www.vmerealty.com; www.proudgreenhome.com; Lucas Pezeta, Daria Shevtsova, AJ Nakasone, and Prasanth Inturi via Pexels.com
