| By :
Jamie Simpson
As a growing segment of the population begins thinking green, more and more people are starting to take notice of the drastic differences between new and old homes when it comes to features like energy efficiency, water management and more. While many home designers and buyers have made a commitment to lowering their impact on the environment, the truth of the matter is that the majority of these buildings are designed to be so environmentally friendly because green technology simply improves everybody's bottom line. New environmentally friendly homes sell for a much higher amount that older inefficient homes because new homes are simply cheaper to own in the long run. Let's take an inside look at what makes new homes so environmentally friendly. Most New Homes are Simply Better Insulated Although it is tempting to dive right into solar power or alternative fuels when you are thinking about making a home more environmentally friendly, the fact is that the number one reason that older homes have such a larger carbon footprint is that they have such poor insulation. Even when an older home is kept in good condition and has had new siding and attic insulation, these older structures waste a tremendous amount of energy in order to keep occupants comfortable during the winter and summer. Modern homes are built out of the latest energy efficient building materials, such state of the art insulation materials and window treatments, that ensure a home can stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer by using as little energy as possible. If you live in an area of the country that has much snow during the winter, you can see what a drastic difference there is between environmentally friendly new homes and inefficient old homes by simply driving around different neighborhoods shortly after a snow storm. Without a doubt, you will find that the roofs in older communities are nearly completely clear of snow within a short period of time, while the roofs of homes in newer communities will stay covered with snow until the weather outside warms up enough to melt the snow naturally. Not only does all of the heat radiating out of the roofs of older homes result in much higher energy bills for its occupants, this energy is completely wasted and contributes to higher carbon emissions for no good reason. New Homes are Specifically Designed to Conserve Water While any environmentally conscious citizen might shake his or her head at the amount of energy that is wasted in older homes, the real waste in natural resources caused by older buildings is a result of the building's plumbing system. From instant hot water to water efficient bathroom fixtures, new homes are designed to maximize the amount of usage that a person can get out of a relatively small quantity of water. Older homes, on the other hand, often require residents to waste gallons and gallons of water just in order to wait for hot water for a shower or flush the toilet.
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