Green and energy savings

i was having a talk with a few realtors the other day and they were "shocked" to learn that "green" will add around $12,000 of cost to a $160,000 home. it's like everything now with our new Socialist mentality - i should get it free - right?? Builders are working off razor thin margins and there is no way they can "eat" this cost. Is the Buyer willing to pay this extra $12,000? Very rarely and if they are - will the Appraiser return the higher value? Not with the pressure they are under. So what is the answer? There isn't one. Alot of the municipalities are trying to force Builders to incorporate "green" elements and all this does is ensure that Builders cannot compete with the inventory of existing homes.