Power drive

Holstein said it costs more in the short run, but homeowners will make that money back by cutting their utility bills.

"In the long run, it's not that much," Holstein said of the upfront investment as he prepared to conduct an air-leak check at a home in The Preserve at Charleston Park.

The recession, it turns out, has prompted more builders to construct environmentally friendly houses as buyers begin to seek more "miles per gallon" from their homes. Contractors are catering to this growing class of cost-conscious consumers by learning the latest energy-saving building techniques and marketing their properties to effectively compete against existing homes that are on the market.

Evidence of the growing trend is widespread. For example, the government's Energy Star program, which started in 1995, recently celebrated its 1 millionth home.

Nate Kredich of the U.S. Green Building Council, a nonprofit that certifies structures based on energy efficiency and other factors, recently described the uptick in the green-building movement amid tough times as "an awakening."

Return to top