No one will tell you that building a new home rather than purchasing one that already exists is environmentally friendly — even if you use salvaged materials. So, if you're considering building a new home, find a lot that's previously been built on. Previously developed land (PDL) that is vacant or unused is a wasted resource. Building on PDL does not disturb wildlife, and keeps our natural assets intact. 
There may also be a cash incentive to leaving nature untouched. When asked about the value of New Jersey's natural assets, Bill Mates of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, said they're worth a lot:
At least $26 billion a year worth of goods and services. And that $26 billion a year is worth about $850 billion in present value terms.
If you have no plans to build a home but have money to spare, consider purchasing undeveloped land and leaving it that way. It's the only property that can't be reproduced.
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Sessun
Lrg
good point, Casa! I think there are some good deals out there for slightly rundown places that you can modify a bit. - i also like your idea about leaving land the way it is! You and your family are setting a good example by doing this.
1We're purchasing land and moving the manufactured home we already live in to it. All the surrounding land is going to be kept as is. We'd never dream of cutting down trees when it's not necessary.
Around here it's hard to buy land that has already been developed. Most of the land that is developed already has houses on it and most of the land that you'd buy in the city is bought up and developed and then resold so you can't choose to preserve nature on your own land, it's already been developed "for you". It irritates me. They also make the land so close together and you don't even have a barrier of trees between two land pots.
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