Why A New Home Is More Eco-Friendly
So, you’re looking at investing a home that’s more eco-friendly, and can’t decide whether you should buy a resale home, or a new home.
And while budget is always a consideration, the hands-down choice should be a new home.
Here’s why.
First, while budget is always a consideration, brand-new homes come loaded with cutting-edge technology built in. Hence, there will be no need to retrofit the home to modern specifications. This will make up for the price difference right off the hop.
Second, new homes come with tighter envelopes.
At the same time, superior insulation, dual or tri-pane windows and high-efficient furnaces work together to reduce energy costs and create a more comfortable living environment. Due to their efficiency, windows are also larger, allowing for passive heating – and more natural light to enter the home.
Meanwhile, another built-in feature – a digital programmable thermostat – allows you to control heating costs by customizing settings whether you’re at home, at work or away from home for most of the day.
This cuts down on energy costs and reduces your carbon footprint. If you really want to go eco-friendly, you can also opt for an electric or geothermal furnace!
Third, you can select eco-friendly materials and paints that make for a healthier environment.
Low VOC paints – which emit no toxic fumes – and natural flooring materials like hardwood floors, cork or bamboo are both healthier and more sustainable. Eco-friendly carpeting choices are also available.
Not only that, but you can also have your builder install low-flow fixtures and accessories in the kitchen and bathrooms – faucets, shower heads and toilets – that use less water, which reduces water consumption while lowering your water bill.
LED lighting can also be installed in key spaces to save money and add style, and you can also request that an electric fireplace be installed in your family room instead of a gas-fired model to forego the use of fossil fuel to heat your home.
In the final analysis, the choice is clear: a new home is far more eco-friendly than a 30-year-old home.
Right off the hop, modern home building specifications automatically mean that your home will be more eco-friendly. Add in the advantage of working with your builder to build a home with the green features you want, and the result will be a fully-customized home with the green features you want and need to lead an exceptionally eco-friendly – and comfortable – lifestyle!