True value is lasting value
We believe in planning for the long term—and we like to call it “fiscal environmentalism.”
It's high time to dispel the myth that upfront costs are a barrier to building a zero-carbon house.
Thanks to the increased affordability of green technologies, combined with state and federal incentives like rebates for renewable energy measures, the zero-carbon house is today within every buyer's reach. In fact, today's newly built house can be zero-carbon ready for upfront costs of just 0 – 7%, an expense which is recouped in short order.
And the cost benefits are irrefutable. The zero-carbon house reduces energy consumption by up to 54%, which translates to savings that begin on day one and keep on going. This is what we mean when we talk about fiscal environmentalism.
But that’s just half the story. Because on top of these accumulated savings, the zero-carbon house is in the long-term a highly sound investment, ensuring a greater resale value than yesterday’s conventional equivalents.
Given that zero-carbon and “passive” house construction is relatively recent on a wider scale, statistics on long-term resale values are not yet readily available. But if studies on the market for houses with solar panels are any indication, the zero-carbon house will prove to be highly profitable.
According to a 2020 report by Zillow, homes with solar-energy systems sold for 4.1% more on average than comparable homes without solar power. For the median-value house, that works out to an additional $9,274.
What’s more, 80% of home buyers identified energy-efficient features as “important.” That’s a new high, and a number sure to climb as the heavy toll and high cost of fossil fuels—on the environment and on our personal health—continue to mount.
It’s that future we have in mind when we talk about fiscal environmentalism, and it’s what we mean by building a legacy house. That your family’s home can be a difference maker—on the planet, the pocketbook, and the air you breathe—and can last for generations to come.
Looking to dig deeper into the numbers? Let’s do it together.