A common misconception of building a new home sustainably is that everything has to cost more. Well this is often the case; there are major efficiency improvements that can be made with price tags that are sometimes lower than outdated, less eco-friendly and less efficient methods.
Building green is an excellent way to differentiate and improve your home. On top of energy savings, building green can greatly increase the value of the home. The National Association of Homebuilders holds for every $1 in annual energy savings, a homes value increases $20. On a 3,000 sq. foot house, geothermal systems can save homeowners over $2,500 in energy savings annually. This increases the value of the home over $50,000.
A geothermal (ground source) heat pump offers homeowner’s energy savings as high as 80% compared to traditional heating and cooling methods. The carbon reduction of each system is the equivalent of plating 900 trees annually. New rebates offer builders and homeowners at least 30% of the total system cost, making geothermal heat pumps the most economical green addition to any new home.
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