Where you live and how you live says a lot about you. More and more people are taking the health of our environment into account when they decide what kind of home to live in. Apartments reduce one's footprint, both in carbon and in use of space. Tiny homes are a statement against consumerism and greed. Solar-powered homes and 3D printed homes are the wave of the future. But for the most eco-bang for your buck, you want to get an existing home that might otherwise go to waste. No, I'm not advocating purchasing a wreck that should be demolished, but something that's affordable because it needs some work.
Buying an existing home means that all the labor and materials of building a new home aren't necessary. Sure, you'll have to buy materials for repair, but that's miniscule compared to the resources that go into manufacturing a new house. It also saves space in a landfill when the house without TLC has reached its limit. The lot doesn't have to be cleared, so it retains the soil and trees that have been there for years. You also may be saving a piece of history. There are plenty of factors that go into selecting a home, but rest assured that putting effort into an old home is an eco-friendly choice. Moss and Fog explains the sustainability of a fixer-upper in more detail, plus you'll get an overview of what you should do to make that old but worthwhile house an efficient and long-lasting place to call home.
(Image credit: Matthew T Rader)
