Any shrewd homeowner weighing the costs of building a home has to take into account the additional property tax incurred on a house with green upgrades.
I thought I was doing the right thing when I opted for spray foam insulation, geothermal, high performance windows, cement board siding and semi smart lighting.
My neighbor's house, same in square footage and amenities except he has an extra bedroom, has none of the green upgrades. It is significantly assessed at a lower value. Good you say?
Except, the savings I get for the my beloved energy efficient home is offset by the additional $800.00, over that of my neighbor's, I spend every year on property taxes.
The one benefit I get from my "green" home is the satification that I get knowing I did my part to conserve limited energy and fight global warming.
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Matthew Keller AIA
DesignBuild Solutions
Pleasant Hill IA
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