Is it More Sustainable to Build or Buy a House?

Today’s housing market is not the easiest to get into. Especially with inflation and unpredictable housing market trends across the country. If you happen to find yourself in a position to buy a new home, it makes sense that you’ll want to make the most of that purchase. 

But what about when it comes to sustainability? Is it more sustainable to move into an existing home or build a new one from scratch? Here are some factors to consider as we decide which is more sustainable:

• Waste

When it comes to waste, buildings account for 38% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions and a new 2000 sqft house can produce four to seven tons of waste during construction. It is also more common than not for new home builders to send their waste to landfills rather than recycle it. 

When it comes to sustainability, it doesn’t get greener than utilizing something already in existence. So a home that is already built is going to probably be the more eco-friendly option when it comes to building or buying. 

• Building Materials

The building materials found in an existing house could already be sustainable or problematic. It really depends on the age of the house and who built it. While you can always replace unsustainable materials with sustainable ones, it is important to remember the potential waste that can end up in landfills from many renovations.

When building your own home, you have the ability to choose which sustainable materials you want to include in your building process that will last a long time, are eco-friendly and can save you money in the long run. 

• Energy-Efficient

Solar panels, better insulation, advanced house framing, eco-friendly materials, and ENERGY STAR appliances and windows are just some of the energy-efficient examples of a new home. Newly built homes have the option to include advanced features that will pay off in the future. But it is also important to keep in mind that any older home can be updated to include more energy efficient features. 

• House Location

When choosing a site to build your new home, you will also have to consider the destruction of the existing flora and fauna. If you want to keep as much of the natural aspects intact as possible, you can contact some local conservation groups to help minimize the potential destruction. 

With existing homes, the site has already been cleared, meaning there isn’t anything you can do further. Studies have also shown that choosing a home in high-density areas produces about half of the emissions as homes in low-density areas.

• Bottom Line

So after taking all these points into consideration, I think it’s clear to see that the greener home depends on the choices we make. Both buying and building have their advantages and disadvantages when it comes to sustainable living. But in the end, if you are able to incorporate renewable energy features, and other sustainable practices into your new home, the earth and your wallet will thank you in the long run. The most important thing is what you want in a new home.

What sustainable features do you have in your home? Let me know in the comments, I’m curious to know!