Alternative energy properties range greatly from suburban residences featuring solar panels to earth sheltered bunkers and everything in between. Perhaps you are searching to buy an off-grid cabin in the mountains of Colorado. Maybe you’re looking for a solar farm with acres to spare. Explore United Country’s comprehensive search tool to discover all our alternative energy properties for sale and begin your journey to investing in sustainable real estate today!
Types of Alternative Energy
Properties
Solar-Powered Properties
Solar-powered properties are the most popular option for
alternative energy properties. These homes and outbuildings are equipped with
solar panels that capture the sunlight and convert it into electricity for the
property. Whether they are installed on the dwelling’s roof, in an open land
area or elsewhere, these installations are versatile assets and widely
beneficial in today’s climate.
Benefits of Owning a Solar-Powered Property
Tax Benefits: Many tax
credits and rebates are offered for those who take advantage of solar-power
energy. For residential properties, you can claim
a federal tax credit to get a percentage of the solar-power system paid
for, helping offset the high investment costs of the energy-efficient resource.
Cost Savings: Additional
cost benefits from leveraging
solar-power energy are the reduced utility bills for your residence or
business. Since you are generating your own electricity, you can achieve
off-grid status in order to eliminate or reduce your reliance on electric
companies and government programs. The amount of savings is dependent on your
area with sunlight exposure, cost of living and unused solar power affecting
these outcomes.
Sustainability: Sustainable
practices and renewable energy solutions are becoming more and more popular and
even increase
the value of a property. Relying on solar energy reduce greenhouse gas
emissions that cause harm to air quality, wildlife habitats and crop
production.
Wind-Powered Properties
Wind-power properties are rarer than many of their renewable
energy counterparts, but they also make up the largest source of renewable
energy in the nation through the many wind turbines installed across the
country. This option is especially beneficial in rural areas where the
wide-open land makes setting up renewable energy strategies far easier.
Benefits of Owning a Wind-Powered Property
Consistent Resource: Wind,
as a resource, is found about everywhere and is more consistent than many other
renewable energy sources. Unlike solar power, wind doesn’t die out at the end
of the day. Rather it is affected by the seasons, so it provides more
regularity making wind
power a better long-term investment.
Tax Benefits: Like all
sustainable practices, owning and installing
a wind turbine on your residential property will qualify you for tax benefits.
You can get upwards of 25% of the costs paid back as a tax credit. Differing
from most of the other sustainable tax benefit programs, the wind turbine does
not have to be on your primary residence to qualify for this benefit, yet it
must be on a residential property.
Low Environmental Impact:
Wind power energy sources do not take up as much land or space as other
sustainability practices with the largest part of them, the blades, raised high
up in the air. It minimally l impacts the wildlife and plant life surrounding
the wind turbine and requires the smallest number of emissions when installing,
making it one of the sustainability resources with the lowest environmental
impact.
Hydropower Properties
Hydroelectric properties generate electricity by introducing
turbines, waterwheels or pumps into rivers or other moving water and converting
the churning of the water into electricity. The most famous of these is the
Hoover Dam, but these can come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, fitting in
your residential or commercial property as needed. Relying on hydroelectric
power has many cost benefits. States that rely on hydropower more, such as
Washington and Oregon, see lower energy bills statewide compared to the rest of
the United States.
Microhydropower Systems
This alternative energy process requires a channel or
pipeline to transport the water and the generator and turbine, or similar
equipment, converts the flowing water energy into electricity you can use. You
can select whether a pump, waterwheel, impulse turbine or reaction turbine
suits your property best. If you opt for a turbine, discover whether an impulse
turbine, a mechanism that relies on the water’s velocity to move the turbine. A
reaction turbine depends on the pressure of the water to convert electricity.
Geothermal Heat Pump Properties
Geothermal heat pumps leverage the consistently hot
temperature of the earth’s core to provide heating and cooling for homes. It
accomplishes this by expelling the heat into the ground through the hot summer
months and stores the heat to warm up residences during the winter months.
There are many
variations of these types of renewable energy resources, allowing you to
adapt these tools to your land and your lifestyle.
Benefits of Owning a Geothermal Heat Pump
Cost Efficient: Save money and
cut costs by implementing a geothermal heat pump on your property. Not only do
they have one of the longest lifespans of any renewable energy equipment, they
can save you up to 70% of heating and cooling costs with its efficient system.
Safety: Geothermal heat
pumps offer greater
safety and comfort than other sustainable resources. By eliminating forced
air heating and cooling practices, they take up less space in your home,
require less outlets into nature and there is no carbon monoxide, odors or
flame.
Zero Energy Homes
Zero energy homes are residences that are still on the grid
but are so expertly designed and energy efficient that they consume as much
renewable energy as they produce, resulting in a net-zero home energy bill.
These property types work in any area from New York to California and Colorado
and everywhere in between. Some of the building practices that make these
houses so special is clean, filtered air; high-quality and energy-efficient
windows and appliances; thick, air-tight walls and often solar panels or other
renewable energy sources.
Benefits of Zero Energy Homes
Wide Variety: As zero energy
homes aren’t limited to one residence or property type, there is a wide variety
of lifestyle that can be supported by this renewable energy strategy. Whether
you’re seeking to purchase a zero energy ready home, a residence already set up
with all the alternative energy and sustainable features, or convert your
current house into a zero energy home, you can benefit from the
environmentally-friendly assets.
Savings: Compared to the other alternative energy systems
and strategies, a
zero energy home doesn’t require any additional costs outside of the initial
investment. Many sustainable practices require large initial expenses to
install sustainable resources and assets. These alternative energy properties
come ready, so while the real estate cost might be higher, the rewards of
consuming less energy will commence day one.
Factors to Consider when
Purchasing Alternative Energy Properties
Sustainable Real Estate
Alternative
energy and sustainable real estate have become inescapable in the past
decade with more and more property owners and home buyers opting for more
environmentally-friendly practices over traditional and outdated energy sources.
The real estate sector is a huge contributor to carbon dioxide emissions with
an estimated 40%
coming from the real estate industry globally. This has led to real estate
brokerages and developers electing to invest in sustainable and clean energy
projects.
Investing in Alternative Energy Real Estate
Investing in alternative energy real estate and sustainable
properties brings a wide array of benefits. These benefits range from
diversified investment portfolios to government incentives and beyond. Real
estate investment trusts (REITs)
that focus on renewable energy projects, such as properties with wind farms
or hydropower, have become a popular investment within the stock industry.
Government Incentives
Incentives are often granted to those committed to investing
in alternative energy properties by governments all over the world. These
incentives include tax credits, grants, rebates or quicker permit processes.
They differ based on the alternative energy type, building plans and location.
Discover how
to claim your tax credits and save money on your investment.
Diversified Portfolio
A diversified portfolio provides security and growth to
investors, so they are not putting all their eggs in one basket, so to speak.
By investing in multiple property types, your finances have less chance of risk
and will often see higher returns. This is due to the diversity of property
types, ensuring if one sector fails others will still succeed. If alternative
energy residential real estate is not what you are looking for at this time,
look into commercial alternative energy properties and offices or electric
vehicle charging stations as simple ways to invest in sustainability.
Green Consumers
Selling to green consumers offers real estate investors
significant benefits, including higher property values and increased
marketability. This type of consumer prioritizes renewable energy systems and
other sustainable practices, and the higher value of these properties leads to
larger sales.
Alternative Energy Real Estate Experts
At United Country Real Estate, there are many alternative
energy real estate experts and other sustainability professionals. As the
leader in land sales with an extensive network and unmatched marketing for your
listing, we will provide you with a seamless real estate experience, allowing
you to buy or sell your alternative energy home or property with ease.
The real estate professionals that make up United Country
contain multitudes of expertise, ranging from current real estate markets to
the intricacies of owning and operating a wind farm. Add someone to your
investment team that prioritizes your unique needs while providing access to
vast marketing campaigns, ensuring you make the most of your alternative energy
experience whether you’re buying or selling.
Our brokerages guarantee a smooth transaction process, as we
handle all legal aspects to grant you peace of mind while making a real estate
investment. Our dedication to satisfying your needs and sustainable practices
makes us the ideal partner for purchasing alternative energy
properties. Contact us today to get started on meeting your sustainability
and property goals.
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