Sustainability is Here to Stay

Data and anecdotal information tell the same tale: Sustainability will continue to grow as more home buyers demand energy efficient, resilient, and healthy homes.

It’s unanimous.

The four generations that drive new home sales will pay more upfront for sustainable options and upgrades that lower the operating costs of their newly built home.

The trend is even more pronounced when you zero-in on the vast cohort of Millennial and Gen Z buyers. Behind them? Gen Alpha will soon become a fifth generation of homebuyers. Likely to carry the torch further.

In a recent Green Builder Media webinar on Generational Marketing, Sara Gutterman, our CEO and co-founder, shared robust and compelling insights into this sea-change in homebuyer needs, attitudes, and expectations in a new home.

The insights from our rich COGNITION Smart Data platform are clear—and builders, real estate developers, building product manufacturers, and stakeholders across the housing eco-system are responding.

According to the Building Sustainably: Green & Resilient Single-Family Homes 2024 SmartMarket Brief from Dodge Construction Network and NAHB, over the past five years builders have increased the use of practices that address key sustainability initiatives. Builders report that in more than 50% of their building projects water conservation was up by 9 percentage points, materials/resource conservation by 12 points, and energy efficiency by 17 points.

The future will be more so. Millennials and Gen Z, the dominant generations of homebuyers for years to come, demand homes that are sustainable, energy-efficient, resilient. Now add Net-Zero Energy to homebuyer shopping lists, as well.

Builders long on board with ENERGY STAR Certified Homes are raising the bar in response. Zero Energy Ready Homes are center stage as builders level-up to meet the expectations of the majority of homebuyers of today—and tomorrow.

Consider Beazer Homes and its commitment to build 100% Zero Energy Ready Homes nationally by the end of 2025. To celebrate that milestone, Beazer and Green Builder Media collaborated to reveal the VISION House Las Vegas, three compelling show homes debuting at the 2025 International Builder Show.

Need further confirmation that sustainability is here to stay? Let’s take one more look at the homebuyers who are already redefining the homes we build.

Looking for more insights into Sustainability? Join us for our 9^th Annual Sustainability Symposium: Force of Nature, which will be held online with three-hour sessions on April 30 and May 1. Nationally known experts will break down the issues and opportunities for builders. You’ll find details for the Symposium, a list of speakers, and a registration form here.

As Green Builder Media celebrates its 20^th Anniversary, you’ll find the resources builders need to navigate a changing market and thrive.