Report: Energy efficient houses don't need to be hyper-modern and expensive

Energy efficiency and eco-friendly construction techniques don't have to be expensive. Many of the homes with the biggest positive environmental impact are older ones which have been remodeled to reduce their carbon footprints, according to NPR's Marketplace.

Unlike new green homes, Marketplace says, retrofitted houses don't take up more land or incur any of the other material costs involved in creating new buildings. However advanced and eco-friendly a new home is, it will still require a considerable quantity of metal, wood, and other substances.

Certification programs like the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design can help homeowners not only save on electric bills and protect the planet, but can also preserve the appraised value of their property, according to Marketplace.

Consumers can be more energy efficient on their own this winter, experts say, by fixing drafts and ensuring their insulation is performing effectively.