Newton Centre ranks as one of the top neighborhoods in the country for green homes
If you’re looking for a sustainable, green home close to Boston, the city of Newton might be your best bet, according to a new study from real estate site Redfin.
For the study, the company looked at homes across the country that were listed in Redfin markets from April 2014 to April 2016 to determine what percentage had “green” features, such as energy star ratings, LEED certification, and solar panels. To be considered a green home for the study, the listing had to mention that the home had one or more of these features.
Newton Centre in Newton ranked number four on the list—49 percent of the listings in the neighborhood had one or more green home features. The Newton neighborhood finished only behind the neighborhood of Villanova near Philadelphia (57 percent), the Villages of Irvine in Irvine, California (56 percent), and Downtown Santa Monica in Santa Monica, California (51 percent).
“While Newton may not be building lots of new green homes like other cities, they have started initiatives to help residents learn how to live more sustainably,” Nancy Schiff, a Redfin real estate agent in Newton, said in a statement. “Home inspectors actually include information in their reports regarding the Mass Save program. It provides homebuyers with valuable information and money-saving ideas to help them make their homes more energy efficient.”
Redfin also pointed out some of Newton’s green initiatives that could have helped contribute to the high percentage of green homes, such as the Newton Solar Challenge, which assists residents in switching to solar power with a free evaluation, and Newton Energy $avers, which the city’s mayor created with the goal of conducting 1,000 home energy assessments (HEA) within one year.
Read the full study to find out which other neighborhoods across the country made the list.
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