New homes are way more energy efficient than homes built 15 or 20 years ago. Buying a new home can be a stressful time, especially when also saddled with the question of whether to buy new or used. A used home might seem like the better option up front with a lower cost, but in the end, maintenance on an older home can add up to be more costly than the purchase of a new home with better energy efficiency might have been. Here are just a few reasons purchasing new is a more cost-effective option:

Utilities and Insulation

Insulation has become more important in homes with the rise in electricity and natural gas costs over the years. In previous years, it was common and more affordable to include little insulation in homes that experienced mild climates (like that of Georgia’s). Homeowners did not insist on double-pane windows and were happy with the more affordable, single-pane aluminum frame option since utilities were not as expensive 15 years ago.

Many windows in new homes also include a UV window film that not only helps maintain temperatures within the home but also protects the color of fabrics, carpets and hardwood floors, as well as sensitive skin.

Appliances

Appliances in a used home, including furnaces, water heaters, refrigerators and ovens, more often than not need to be replaced or repaired very shortly after move-in. This headache is avoided with the purchase of a new home with brand-new machines that typically feature the most energy-efficient features. Unfortunately, normal wear and tear are mostly to blame here, but older appliances simply were not built to the standard that today’s machines are.

Again, thanks to the previously low cost of utilities, energy-efficient standards were not in demand. Today, thanks to larger homes and desired comfort levels, homebuyers are treating their new home as an investment that will remain cost-effective over time.

Go Green

Thanks to the public interest in protecting and preserving the environment, energy efficiency is at the forefront of conversations and buyers are encouraged to invest in “greener” homes. Many states even offer tax incentives to taxpayers who upgrade their homes to improve energy efficiency or make use of renewable energy to help offset some of the costs of said upgrades. Not only are new homes naturally more efficient, but they also utilize and waste fewer resources.

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