When looking for the perfect homestead design, one design kept coming up more than ever.
From China to Mexico, this green design addresses most problems with today’s housing.
Are You Frustrated With High Energy Costs?
You'll pay for the push for renewable energy without systems that reduce consumption.
The cost of maintaining livable square footage is increasing each year.
During COVID-19, some regions even have shortages in building materials.
- To frame a typical stick-built house costs $75-$150 per sq. ft. nationally.
- To finish that house with appliances, you'll pay $255 a sq. ft. on average.
- Electricity prices in the US have increased 2.5% per year over the past 25 years.
- With inflation, the average electricity prices increased by 13% from 2022 to 2025.
The trend of larger houses means higher energy consumption.
While these homes are more energy efficient per square foot, they are significantly larger than older homes.
Even with green features, many cannot afford housing in suburban communities built in the last 10 years.
They are living in older homes. As of this writing, Dec. 2025, the majority of people live in dwellings built between 1950 and 1980.
Many homes from that period were mass-produced and stamped out during periods of economic growth.
What you know about a typical home doesn't work on a homestead.
If you want a home that stays warm in the winter and cool in the summer, look back at historic designs.
Do you fear protesters showing up at your home?
Your home is your castle. Is it a fortress or a drafty ruin?
The term castle is appropriate because most people want their home to bring peace, safety, and comfort.
Beyond energy efficiency, you need protection from fire, natural disasters, and civil unrest.
Many affluent homeowners are targets of protesters. You saw this during the BLM and other protests worldwide.
Angry mobs who believe your stuff ought to be their stuff. This modest home design delivers utility value while protecting your family.
Imagine living out in the country, a prime target of thieves and trespassers.
Historical home designs offer a measure of protection in concept and design.
Are you frustrated with the comfort of your home?
Too hot, too cold. Modern solutions are costly.
Yet this historic design solves all these problems with 5,000 years of testing.
How historical homes stay comfortable, a few examples:
- Higher ceilings to draw up heat,
- Building materials that hold heat,
- Smaller rooms to conserve heat,
- Burning of biomass under floors,
- Solar aspect and roof lines,
- Underground space for cooling,
Some will call these techniques natural building, where the choice of materials facilitates energy conservation.
There is also how homes were approached.
Many homes start small. That's why these historical designs don’t cost much to start; you can even expand them.
In this podcast, I also cover three critical factors that affect how green your home can be.
What is the most flexible design? Discover those details and more in today’s problem: “Historic Green Design.”
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