solar panels, free electricityAlthough the real estate market has slowed dramatically in recent years, people who bought homes that have solar panels or are LEEDS certified (LEEDS certification means that the home has met high standards for energy efficiency) have been caught up in as much price depreciation as others who bought ordinary homes. Homes and buildings that generate their own free electricity or have solar panels for hot water heating are in higher demand than ever, so buying one of these homes is a safer investment than a home that uses power from the grid.

We are so lucky now to have all sorts of new ways to make our homes more energy efficient using products that don't have a negative impact on the environment. Products from paint to solar shingles all help to cut the impact on the environment in a good way. Paint, for example, can be mixed with products that reflect heat in the summer and keep the heat in during the winter. Solar shingles look like regular roofing materials, but they actually harvest sunshine to generate free electricity. These are especially good solutions to neighborhoods where HOA's look dimly on solar panels.

There is much people can even do to retrofit their current homes so they consume far less energy, like using the insulating paints, adding solar panels, installing solar hot water heaters. It's not money wasted. Combined with the lower energy costs in the future, the tax credits, and the better performance on the resale market, going green is a smart thing to do at home.