The ROI of a high-performance home

Building a green, high-performance home will typically always cost more than the same home built to standard building codes. The advantage is the long-term energy savings over the life of the home and the improved quality of life — which for many is priceless.

Using California Code as a baseline of construction standards, these tables show the costs differences in initial construction costs, as well as the energy efficiency gains and ROI potential.

Costs and return on investment

People are often surprised to learn that a high-performance home only costs 5-10% more than a conventionally-built home. After several years, the high-performance home catches up, offsetting the difference in initial construction costs (this doesn’t include rebates and tax credits), and begins to pay for itself. High-performance homes cost remarkably less over time, because their efficiency simply soars off the charts. Plus, your family enjoys a home that is beautiful, healthier, more comfortable, and better for the environment.