John Hamblin is a trendsetter. At least, he hopes he is.
Hamblin is the first person to take advantage of Anne Arundel County’s property-tax-credit incentive for high-performance, environmentally-friendly properties.
Read Hamblin’s story here.
Hamblin’s 3,100-square-foot home earned a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver rating, which will provide him with $5,000 in property tax credits over five years. A gold rating earns the homeowner $10,000 over five years and a platinum is worth $15,000.
LEED certification provides a set of guidelines for a home to be constructed in the most environmentally-friendly way possible.
Hamblin’s home is located in a community dubbed the Preserve, a development which will eventually include 73 green homes. The new home includes native landscaping, granite countertops and energy-saving heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. It utilizes recycle asphalt, has a built-in recycling center for the kitchen, has rain barrels and recycled ceramic tiles. There are energy-efficient appliances, low-flow shower heads and faucets and low-emission coating on the windows and doors.
In all, it’s about 40 percent more energy efficient than the average home.
The electric bill in September was reportedly $78 and that was while the home was still under construction. Hamblin expects the bill to be about $50 on average a month.
The county passed legislation to provide property tax credits to any homes built with environmental standards in mind on or after July 1, 2010. The county hopes to have more green homes built by offering the tax break.
Of course, having those homes comes at a price.
Hamblin purchased his home for $560,000 and similar homes typically cost 5-to-10 percent more to build than an average home. Those who design and construct the homes say that the savings that come with more efficient features ends up being worth it in the long run.
What do you think? Is the tax incentive enough for you to pay a little more for a green home than a regular home? Are the potential long-term savings worth it?
