New Year’s resolutions are often made with the best intentions—often, only to be forgotten weeks later. As Long Island looks toward the future, one resolution deserves your discipline: making better choices to benefit our planet.
Earth has long provided its inhabitants with fertile soil, abundant food, and breathtaking natural beauty, but what have we done to give back? On Long Island, where coastal erosion, rising sea levels, and extreme weather events are increasingly visible, sustainable living is no longer an abstract concept; it’s a necessity.
Sustainability is defined as living within the limits of the Earth’s biocapacity—the amount of biologically productive land and sea available to supply the resources humans consume and to absorb the waste they produce. Today, humanity’s ecological footprint exceeds the planet’s biocapacity by 1.5 times, and it is growing rapidly. In other words, we are consuming more resources than the earth can sustainably provide.
For homeowners and builders, this imbalance raises an important question: how do the materials we use to build and renovate our homes contribute to environmental strain? Have improvements been made to address it?
Living on an island directly shapes our lives by the land and water surrounding us, yet conversations around sustainable building materials often remain limited, despite the availability of accessible and effective options. While some eco-friendly materials and upgrades may come with a higher upfront cost, prioritizing them can significantly benefit the fragile ecosystems we so deeply cherish.
Fire Island homes clearly demonstrate what is at stake. Exposed to tough coastal conditions, these properties are on the front lines of climate impact. Each year, Riverhead Building Supply tackles this challenge by hosting “Building at the Beach,” an event that invites homeowners to meet suppliers and highlights accessible, sustainable, and resilient materials for coastal construction and renovation.
“Sustainability in the building industry is closely tied to the longevity and performance of materials,” Grace Ingram of Riverhead Building Supply explained. “When materials are designed to endure and function as intended over time, they reduce the need for frequent replacements or repairs, minimizing waste and conserving resources.”
Ingram noted that long-term durability not only supports eco-friendly practices but also delivers lasting value to homeowners, keeping homes efficient and functional over decades.
Homeowners along the South Shore are increasingly seeking exterior materials that combine natural aesthetics with long-term performance, particularly for waterfront properties. Siding, windows, and doors are among the most critical considerations. Responsibly sourced natural wood siding, such as cedar, remains a popular choice due to its classic appearance and ability to last for decades with minimal maintenance.
For those looking beyond traditional wood, fiber cement siding, such as James Hardie, offers a durable alternative. Manufactured using sustainable practices, fiber cement is engineered to withstand extreme weather conditions and is noncombustible and flame-resistant, adding an extra layer of safety. Demand for these materials continues to grow among South Shore buyers who consider eco-friendly features that merge beauty with long-term value.
The financial benefits of sustainable upgrades extend beyond utility savings. From a real estate perspective, energy-efficient homes often command higher market values.
“Homes that have been upgraded with energy-efficient features and designed to make living sustainably easy do command a higher dollar value,” Jeanne Edwards of Douglas Elliman shared. “The initial investment can be substantial, which can be a deterrent, but given the choice, most people agree it’s a more desirable way to live.”
Edwards added that operating costs are a critical factor for buyers.
“I always discuss the cost of running a house after purchase with buyers, as it is part of the equation of financing and monthly expenses. Two properties can be priced the same, but one may have solar panels or some other energy-efficient feature that brings the monthly cost of running the house down, in effect making the house more affordable.”
Sustainable upgrades are no longer a niche consideration; they’ve become a defining factor of responsible homeownership on Long Island. By choosing to upgrade a home rather than build a new one, you’re already on the right path to creating an eco-friendly living environment for you and your loved ones.
As climate challenges intensify, building smarter today may be one of the most impactful resolutions Long Islanders can make for the year ahead and for generations to come.
