There are a lot of perks and niceties that people will pay a little extra for when looking for a new home. Some are looking for a view, while others will pay a premium for added privacy, while still others will pay a handsome sum to live in just the right neighborhood. But would you stretch that little bit extra to start living green?

According to an article in the New York Times, green living may be the wave of the future. Some builders even expect their new green buildings to hold their value better in coming years, as non-green buildings become obsolete and fall out of favor in the real estate market. It’s true that even now, many people who can afford to do so will choose to live in green buildings over their traditional counterparts, and this trend is expected to continue.

There are still some downsides to green buildings, however, that are keeping them from becoming a truly widespread phenomenon. For most, the most daunting obstacle to green living is the inflated initial cost. Green buildings tend to cost more to build, which means that living green will probably run you a little extra, despite major reductions in your future heating and electrical costs in the long term. Still, green living isn’t only for the rich. According to the U.S. Green Building Council, it is possible to build green buildings at costs which actually end up being lower than the costs of building similar traditional structures. This means that in the not too distant future, you could find yourself living comfortably in a green building without shelling out too much green from your wallet.

And if the trend toward organic food is any indication, the market may be willing to pay a premium for clean housing in the future too.

- Tony Floriani