Research by the University of Central Florida (UCF) proves what builders and their Realtors should already know – new homes are more energy efficient than resale homes. And they use less water and also are healthier, more economical to operate, and simply better. Let’s look at that in more detail. Then let’s get the word out!

The study, performed by UCF’s Florida Energy Center, found that homes built according to the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), the code that both Tucson and Pima County use, can be as much as 26% more energy efficient in our climate zone (zone 2) than homes built under the 2006 IECC. As recently as only six years ago, homes could have been built under the 2006 code.

UCF determined the HERS Index Scores for typical homes (2,000 sf one-story and 2,600 sf two-story prototypes) built according to the 2006, 2009, and 2012 IECC in various U.S. climate zones. The HERS score is a standardized home-design energy-efficiency measurement. Like golf, the lower the score, the better. Six of the ten largest U.S. home builders provide HERS scores for all their homes. SAHBA members that do that include, ranked by national size, #2 Lennar, #3 Pulte, #8 KB, #11 Meritage, and #12 Richmond American.

In addition to using less energy, new homes also use less water than older homes. The Federal Energy Policy Act of 1992 required that plumbing fixtures be more water efficient. Toilets decreased from 3.5 to 1.6 gallons per flush. Shower heads decreased from 5.5 to 2.5 gallons per minute. And faucets could be no more than 2.2 gpm. Studies estimate that these lower-water-use fixtures save the average U.S. household between $60 to $90 per year.

Looking at health considerations, homes built before 1986 may have problems with lead in their water. Safe Water Drinking Act amendments adopted in 1986 banned use of lead-containing solders and required that plumbing fixtures be tested and certified as lead free. Lead can be a significant health problem, especially for children. Exposure to lead can result in delays in physical and mental development, along with deficits in attention span and learning abilities. The lead solder ban, in addition to making homes healthier, also makes copper plumbing more durable. The replacements to lead solder are stronger, and even before lead’s ban had been being used in high-rise and other higher-stress applications.

Finally, homes built before 1978 probably have lead paint. The Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Regulation requires sellers of pre-1978 homes to provide potential buyers with the EPA information pamphlet, Protect Your Family From Lead In Your Home. Additionally, sellers must give buyers time to conduct a lead inspection.

As members of the home building industry, we can do a better job of making the public aware of the benefits of new homes. They are better for our health because they don’t have lead in their paint or plumbing. They are more energy and water efficient and so are better for the environment and cost less to operate than homes built even only a few years ago, even if the new home only follows building codes. And many builders today, as shown by the HERS ratings of their homes, are doing far better than that.

Dante Archangeli is the owner of Tucson Artisan Builders LLC, has been a Southern Arizona Home Builders Association member since 2000, and a green builder for longer than that. He also blogs about sustainability at GoodNewsForNature.com and terrain.org/author/darchangeli/.