Is there a significant difference between energy-efficient buildings and non-energy efficient buildings in terms of costs?
The energy codes are becoming more stringent, so building energy efficiently will no longer be a choice but rather a requirement, and cost will not be an excuse for not building better. The process to design and build an energy efficient building requires more planning and analysis. During the process, waste must be eliminated to offset potential additional cost of materials or systems. Additionally, if one considers the long term cost savings of operating and maintaining a high performance building, it is clear that the financial benefits far outweigh the potential initial costs. There are now financial assistance programs from cities that encourage energy efficient retrofits by making funds available for renovation projects where the payback of the loan is tied to the property taxes. These programs assist homeowners by not having to come up with the initial money for retrofits; they save money by saving energy and if they decide to sell the house, the loan continues to be paid by the
