News & Events

Cristo Homes Featured in Green Builder Article

It's not easy being green, but sometimes it's just the right thing to do.



At least that was how Joe Cristo, president of family-owned Cristo Homes, felt when his company decided three years ago it would make a push into the energy-efficient home market.



“We decided to take a path not taken by many builders and become a leader in our industry and take initiatives that actually add cost to the home because we think it is the right thing to do,” he said.



The company began building “green” homes in early 2008, with options like a 95 percent high efficiency gas furnace, programmable thermostat, low-E windows with argon gas to help customers save up to 34 percent on their utility bills.



Customers are able to pick and choose the features they would like to make their newly-constructed home environmentally-friendly as well as energy-efficient.



Even in a slow market, Cristo Homes has already built about 100 green homes in Butler and Warren counties, Cristo said.



“The response has been positive. I believe people recognize the importance of building a home that is sustainable, that is kind to our environment and they appreciate we are taking those steps,” he said.



While some energy-efficient homes can be costly, Cristo said his company is focused on affordability, with homes ranging from $110,000 to $190,000.



And the savings from having a green home can equate to even more green at resale.



A study by the Appraisal Journal shows that homebuyers are willing to pay substantially more for energy-efficient homes. About $420 in annual utility savings can add up to about $8,400 to the market value of a home that can be Energy Star rated, the study said.



By Jessica Heffner

Staff Writer

Middletown Journal

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