Renovating your existing house to make it 30% more efficient will essentially always remain a better bet for the environment than a new house built with the same improved efficiencies. The extensive materials, energy, shipping, and waste required for new construction have an environmental cost that will take longer to overcome than those associated with retrofitting an existing structure. At South Bend Heritage Foundation we are working harder than ever to increase the energy performance of the houses we renovate. The 1920’s bungalow pictured above received hi-efficiency furnace and hot water heater, low-E windows, blown cellulose insulation in all the wall cavities, and 2” of rigid foam over the entire roof deck.
So when thinking about your next housing adventure consider renovation instead of new construction.
The extensive materials, energy, shipping, and waste required for new construction have an environmental cost that will take longer to overcome than those associated with retrofitting an existing structure.
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