Let's Talk Preservation - Part 2

In my previous journal entry, “Let’s Talk Preservation: Part 1”, I briefly touched on why Energy Star certified homes, despite their high levels of efficiency, still inflict considerable damage to the
environment.

We know that Energy Star homes reach their certification by making use of high efficiency windows, appliances, insulation, and HVAC systems. However, regardless of how little energy a new home consumes,
it still requires exceptional levels of energy to construct. Materials
are shipped from all part of the country if not world, workers drive in
from miles away, heavy machinery excavates foundations and other areas
for utilities, and cannot even account for how much energy the
fabrication and manufacturing of the homes individual components
consumed. Even with their advanced levels of efficiency, an Energy Star
homes energy savings would take a decade or more to just break even
with the energy consumption invested in the buildings construction. The
homeowner might pay less for energy, but paying less does not mean the
house used less during construction.