Building a brand new home is an option many people are leaning toward. Although design shows have glorified the idea of fixing up an old, outdated house and bringing it back to life, there is still a lot of work involved many may not want to commit to.

When building a home, you don’t have to worry about what you’ll find hidden behind your walls, since everything will be brand new and never used before. While the cost may be higher than choosing to remodel, you can still find other savings on things like new build home insurance, which is typically cheaper than coverage for an older home.

Since you’re starting from scratch, your home can be everything you desire. You can choose every feature, from kitchen appliances to bathroom hardware. When selecting these items, it pays to look into eco-friendly options. Just like your newly built home, they may come with a higher initial price tag, but you will see many long-term savings and benefits.

With longer lifespans, less energy consumption, and lower carbon footprints, eco-friendly features in your home will help the environment and save you money.

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Eco-Friendly Features Reduce Environmental Impact

Homes have a larger carbon footprint than many may think. Items used daily, such as light bulbs, appliances, heating, and air conditioning, can significantly affect the environment.

When you choose eco-friendly features in your home, you drastically reduce the amount of energy needed to keep them up and running. Appliances boasting more environmentally friendly features will typically have the ENERGY STAR rating on them, so they are easy to spot.

How much less energy do these features use?

ENERGY STAR washers can save 40-50% on energy use.
For an ENERGY STAR dryer, you can expect around 20% less energy usage.
Refrigerators that are ENERGY STAR certified will use about 15% less energy.

While not all of these numbers seem astronomically high, they certainly add up to massive energy savings over time. With more energy-efficient features, you will significantly reduce your environmental impact.

You’ll See Long-Term Savings With Eco-Friendly Features

Initially, choosing more environmentally friendly features in your new home may result in a higher upfront cost. While this can seem alarming, it’s only a temporary cost. You may think you should skip out on the more eco-friendly options due to their higher price tag. However, their savings can be huge over time.

You will see massive savings in appliances like your washing machine and dishwasher, as environmentally friendly options use much less water than those without the ENERGY STAR certification. You will use anywhere from 20 to 50% less water with these eco-friendly options.

Not to mention, all the energy you save from these options doesn’t only benefit the environment. They can also greatly benefit your wallet by reducing your energy bills each month. Over the lifetime of an appliance, those savings will add up to be much more than the appliance’s initial sticker price.

Eco-Friendly Features Beyond Appliances

When looking into eco-friendly options for your new home, appliances are likely the first place your mind jumps. While items like washers and dryers are undoubtedly excellent, your environmentally friendly options don’t have to stop there.

You can add many other features to your home to reduce your carbon footprint and save money.

Environmentally Friendly Windows

Some seasons can be brutal. Whether it’s the harsh cold of winter or the sticky summer heat, being indoors becomes a safe haven when the weather gets too extreme.

Choosing the right windows can help your home stay more comfortable during these seasons — requiring you to use less energy to stabilize the temperature. Eco-friendly windows come in various options, allowing you to choose what works best for your home and your budget.

With more insulation, reflective glass, and more panes, energy-efficient windows can make a huge difference in your home’s energy usage. Combined with lowered monthly bills, this eco-friendly option is a win-win.

Programmable Thermostats

As technology advances, items such as programmable thermostats become increasingly popular. By using them correctly, you can save money on your bills by using less energy.

Rather than manually changing the temperature in your home, programmable thermostats allow you to set the temperature at specific points in the day. This means you can lower your heating or cooling while you are away at work and have it kick back on just in time for you to get home to a comfortable house.

With a pre-set time, you know you will never forget to change the temperature in your home before leaving or going to bed. All you need to do is set up the timer, and your thermostat will do the rest.

LED Light Bulbs

No matter how sunny and well-lit your home is during the day, you will undoubtedly need lights at some point. With LED light bulbs, you are lowering your environmental impact and keeping money in your pocket.

While the initial purchase cost of these eco-friendly bulbs may be higher than incandescents, they are well worth the sticker price. LED light bulbs will use around 90% less energy than their older, more outdated counterparts.

LED bulbs also have an extended lifespan to make up for their higher purchase price. One LED bulb will last, on average, the same as 16 incandescent bulbs. Their long life can certainly cover the cost to purchase when you consider how many older bulbs you would have to buy in that time.

Solar Panels

Many people are aware that solar panels are an expensive eco-friendly option. They have a much higher purchase price and installation cost than other items on this list.

While their hefty price tag can seem like a reason to steer clear, solar panels are an excellent eco-friendly home option if you can afford them. This environmentally friendly energy source is pollution-free and can last up to 30 years.

Solar panels can also drastically reduce or even eliminate your monthly electricity bill. With these savings, the price of installing solar panels offsets itself over time.

Eco-friendly features can be a significant benefit to any home — old or new. They are better for the environment — and your pocketbook — than their older counterparts.

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Eco-Friendly Home Features: A Lifetime of Benefits

You may be on the fence about choosing more environmentally friendly features in your home. Perhaps the upfront cost seems too high, or you aren’t sure they will make enough of a difference in your utility savings.

However, eco-friendly features can be a significant benefit to any home — old or new. They are better for the environment than their older counterparts, and they will provide considerable savings over time both for energy and home insurance costs.

With longer lifespans, less energy consumption, and lower carbon footprints, eco-friendly features in your home will allow you to feel comfortable knowing you are helping out the planet and saving money, all at the same time.

About the Author

Alexandra Arcand writes and researches for the insurance comparison site, ExpertInsuranceReviews.com. She recently upgraded her own home with energy-saving features and loves the results.