New homes are normally more energy efficient than old homes
Nashville real estate - I had this question today, and the answer is most of the time. I know I'm going to hear it from the crowd that says they don't build them like they used to. I hear that a lot, and I say, you are correct, they build them better now.
When I move from my 9 year old 2100 square ft home to my new 2800 square ft home, my energy bill for the first year averaged less than half of what it had been previously. Was it because of the better windows? better insulation? more efficient HVAC? Probably all of them.
The most successful development in Williamson county is using architecture that makes the homes look like they are 50 years old. Just because they look old, doesn't mean that they aren't using the most energy efficient materials to reduce energy costs. In Westhaven, the builders are using modern materials and building standards on homes that look like your grandmothers house. The result is a very quiet, energy effecient home that looks great.
Save our natural resources, buy a new home built by a good builder. The energy savings alone could be thousands of dollars each year.