Floor plans and furnishings aside, the average person would be hard-pressed to see the differences between an updated mid-century home and a state-of-the-art, new-construction home–after all, walls are walls. Right? Not exactly. Technological advancements are radically reshaping every industry in America, and housing is no exception. Advances in insulation-material sciences, home conditioning equipment performance, and even property landscaping approaches have allowed for substantial gains in energy efficiency in new construction homes. While adopting the latest in energy conservation products and techniques might increase a property’s initial price tag, it will translate into lower energy costs well into the future.