Beyond savings, there are other great reasons to build a LEED-certified home.
You simply can’t live in Cincinnati and not appreciate nature. The city is filled with amazing parks and features a diverse and unique natural geography as well. So, when it comes time to build your own custom home, why not extend your love of the outdoors to the indoors and build a LEED certified home?
Not only do LEED certified homes help protect the planet, but they can also reduce your carbon footprint closer to home by incorporating the latest technology with everything from appliances to building materials. And did you know that a LEED certified home can you save on energy bills?
You might think that building a LEED certified custom home would come with a high price tag, but thanks to tax abatements from the City of Cincinnati, building green can actually save you money. Simply put, building green can save you green.
LEED Certification in Cincinnati
LEED is a flexible green building program that allows builders to accrue points as they apply established strategies and practices to achieve certification, hence the term “LEED certified.”
There are a variety of rating systems based on the type of construction project at hand, including building design + construction, homes, interior design + construction, and neighborhood developments. That’s right – entire home communities here in Cincinnati (and elsewhere) can be LEED certified.
Once you decide to build a LEED certified home, our team will incorporate green, sustainable building practices throughout the entire construction phase. When the construction is complete, your new home will have earned a LEED certificate that recognizes it as a sustainable home, designed to have a positive impact on the planet.
About the Cincinnati Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) Tax Abatement Program
The City of Cincinnati launched the CRA Tax Abatement Program back in 1994 with the goal of increasing investments and economic opportunities in designated CRA areas. While the program initially included only commercial and multifamily buildings, it expanded to include new residential houses in 2001.
In 2006, the City of Cincinnati added a green component to the CRA Tax Abatement Program. Now, new custom homes that are LEED certified or built by a LEED certified builder are taxed at preconstruction values. Homeowners might also qualify for tax exceptions for 100 percent of home improvements to LEED-certified projects.
And the city offers a full property tax exemption for ten years for new LEED certified homes. That can amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars in savings within the lifetime of the home.
More benefits of a custom LEED certified home
Health and wellness
LEED certified homes are designed to reduce indoor air pollutants and toxins while creating an abundance of clean air. Ventilation systems in LEED homes reduce the amount of carbon monoxide and dangerous chemicals in air, so they are extremely beneficial for people with allergies, asthma, or lung conditions.
LEED certified homes also use appliances that add less volatile organic compounds (VODs) to the air, are radon-resistant (radon is a leading cause of lung cancer) and feature state-of-the-art air filtering systems to rid air of mold spores and dust.
Energy saving
Building an eco-friendly home can save energy in a variety of ways. All LEED certified homes are designed to be energy-efficient and air-tight and are fitted with the appliances that carry the energy star-rating.
And LEED certified buildings can save homeowners a considerable amount of money – up to 40% – on energy and water bills.
Sustainability
If you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint and make the world cleaner and healthier for future generations, living in a green home is key. At the heart of LEED certification is the goal of making buildings that are simply better for the planet.
Higher resale value
Choosing to build a custom, LEED certified home in Cincinnati doesn’t raise construction costs. In fact, should you ever decide to sell your home, there’s a very good chance that it will take less time to find a buyer, and will be sold for more money. That makes green building a great investment.
Resilience
Because LEED certified homes are built with durable materials that are sustainable, they’re built to last. They are also inspected, and performance tested by a third-party organization, so you can trust that your custom home is being built to follow the highest of standards.
Today, more than ever, Cincinnati homeowners are choosing sustainable, eco-friendly dwellings as we look for ways to ease global warming and reduce pollution. As a LEED certified builder, Classic Living Homes is passionate about constructing beautiful homes that are also good for you and the planet.
