According to GreenBuilder Magazine's article, entitled "Green Design Picks," home buyers are focused more than ever on green building and energy efficiency in their homes. The article offers results and charts from the 2010 AVID Home Design Driver Research, which seeks to uncover consumer preferences in home design. The survey covers almost 12,000 North Americans who have built a home in the last nine years.
Paul Cardis, CEO of Avid, notes that the economy has played a significant role in the selection of home characteristics that interest and excite buyers. Green building -- that is, energy efficiency, insulation and recycled/synthetic materials -- appears to be one of these new trends.
See the following statistics on recycled building material preferences for home buyers:
First Time: Desirable
Must Have: 15.4%
Really Want: 23.1%
Might Be Nice If Affordable: 34.6%
Might Be Nice If Included: 17.3%
Not Important: 9.6%
Move Up: Desirable
Must Have: 9.9%
Really Want: 19.3%
Might Be Nice If Affordable: 36.5%
Might Be Nice If Included: 19%
Not Important: 15.2%
Second Home: Desirable
Must Have: 19.4%
Really Want: 16.7%
Might Be Nice If Affordable: 36.1%
Might Be Nice If Included: 5.6%
Not Important: 22.2%
Displaced: Desirable
Must Have: 5.2%
Really Want: 19.5%
Might Be Nice If Affordable: 40.3%
Might Be Nice If Included: 18.2%
Not Important: 16.9%
Empty Nester:
Must Have: 4.8%
Really Want: 35.5%
Might Be Nice If Affordable: 33.9%
Might Be Nice If Included: 8.1%
Not Important: 17.7%
Custom: Desirable
Must Have: 12.1%
Really Want: 22.7%
Might Be Nice If Affordable: 27.3%
Might Be Nice If Included: 19.7%
Not Important: 18.2%
"Just as with green flooring, recycled and synthetic materials are considered desirable but not a must-have by all groups. If these materials are affordable and cost-equivalent with non-green options, buyers would choose the green option. Contrary to even just a few years ago, many green products are in line, if not less expensive, than their non-green counterparts."