The definition of ‘Greenhabbing’
For real estate investors the term greenhabbing may be an unfamiliar concept. However, with the explosion of interest in green building, greenhabbing is here to stay. Green building can be separated into two distinct areas: materials and performance.
Materials simply represent the materials used, how they are used and how excess materials are disposed of. Performance relates to the design and actual performance of a structure as it relates to operational expense, indoor air quality, comfort. You may not usually consider comfort as a performance level but in green building you should.
With that said, the definition of greenhabbing is:
Greenhabbing is the process of remodeling an existing structure (whether it be commercial, residential, industrial, etc) to create a high performance structure. This new high performance space must meet all of the following conditions:
1. A minimum of 80% of the materials used to greenhab (remodel) the structure must be high-quality sustainable materials that create a healthier living/working environment.
2. When completed, the greenhab must cost a minimum 30% less to operate than a comparable property.
3. It must create less of an environmental impact than a comparable property.
A greenhabbed property is created through the four core elements of high-performance, healthier living, low cost and low environmental impact.
As more builders, real estate rehabbers become interested in becoming ‘green’ builders the incidents of green-washing continues to increase. I am seeing more builders or RE investors call their properties ‘green’ when they’ve actually done very little in terms of greenhabbing. Changing light-bulbs and adding low-VOC paint aren’t groundbreaking anymore. On a current project I am working on in Buena Park, California, our greenhab crew is adding/installing no less than 30 different ‘green’ elements to the project. These include cellulose exterior wall insulation, wall socket gaskets, recycled carpet, water heater insulation, day-lighting solutions, just to name a few.
So, hopefully this definition will separate the true greenhabbers from the greenwashers.
[Roger/Jose, Ryan/Shan, NWL, keep up the great work!]
