Eco-conscious people who are on the hunt for a green home don’t have to look very far from Philly: Villanova, less than 20 miles away, was just named the top U.S. neighborhood for green homes.
That’s according to real estate website Redfin’s latest report, which found that 57 percent of homes in Villanova have "green" features. That’s the highest amount of environment-friendly homes in the nation.
For the report, researchers analyzed all of the sold homes in 2015 and looked for words like "green" or "energy star" in the listing description.
The researchers were surprised that Villanova came out on top, given the fact that the Main Line is known for its sprawling estates and multi-million dollar mansions, many of which were built in the sixties. But local real estate agent Blakely Minton says the new owners of these aging homes are often driven to turn them into energy-efficient properties.
"Over the years homeowners in the area have replaced aging roofs, windows, plumbing, heating and cooling systems with newer, energy-efficient materials and designs. In renovated homes you’ll find ENERGY STAR® appliances in the laundry rooms and kitchens, high-end foam insulation in the walls, double-pane windows, energy-efficient tankless water systems and smart home technology that monitors light and heat use."
It helps that green-friendly homes tend to out-sell average homes when they hit the market. The researchers found that overall, green homes sold for $33,894 more than the median sales price in 2015.
- The 15 most expensive homes for sale on the Main Line [Curbed Philly]