Owning a home can be a great investment and allow homeowners to have a sense of freedom. However, homeownership also requires regular maintenance and upkeep if you expect to be able to cash out when it comes time to sell your home.
Whether you are getting your home ready to sell or just looking for some cost effective upgrades, keep energy efficiency in mind. According to the National Association of Realtors 8 out of 10 home buyers say energy efficiency is of importance when purchasing a home.
With in some cases minimal changes can lead to lower utility bills, improved indoor air quality, an upgraded look, as well as will make your home more desirable to future buyers.
Check for Leaks
Have you ever walked past a window or door and could feel air seeping into your home? Or perhaps you can see daylight through cracks in the door? To some people this may seem like a small issue, however did you know that a leaky home can cost between 5-30% more on your energy bills? When you add this up every month it can make quite a financial impact.
To check for leaks first evaluate some of the key entry points:
- Check around windows (caulk if needed) - if windows are worn consider updating- new windows could qualify for the energy tax credit rebate.
- Feel around electrical sockets and light switches- foam insulating sheets can be added behind them to decrease leaks and improve efficiency.
- Feel for leaks around the doors and look for daylight- a simple door adjustment or new weather stripping could do the job. If your doors have seen better days or lack overall insulating ability a new door could be eligible for the energy tax credit rebate.
- Check around the foundation, exterior trim, fireplace, attic opening and seal all holes with appropriate sealers- not only will this prevent energy loss, but also unwanted animal intrusion.
Please read our eco-minded blog posts for more information pertaining to "all things green":
Composting 101: What is Composting and Why Should Everyone Do it?
How to Exorcize the Vampire and Monsters in your Life- the "dangers" of phantom energy sources
Color me Green- The In's and Out's of Low VOCs Paints
I Am Proud to Say That Our Future Looks Greener, Thanks To Our Little Earth Stewards!
Go Green with Sustainable Landscaping Techniques
Get in My Belly- My Big Solar Belly, That is- Knoxville Goes Green with Solar Trash Compactors
Watch Out For Greenwashing when Purchasing Green Cleaning Products
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Timely information. With utility bills rising fast people can really do allot to lower their energy bills. For example, I replaced my older heating and air conditioning units 2 years ago and my electric bills have gone down $85 and the electric company has had 3 price hikes in that same time frame. Another big energy waister is the electric water heater. If everyone put a timer on the water heater , you would be shocked how much energy you could save with that one appliance.
Thanks
Jerry, thanks for that added info- it is amazing how much difference something as simplist as a timer could make.
As an energy auditor I know that air leaks are often the largest drain on a house holds energy. The areas you cite are some of the bigger sources. They are a good starting point.
Thanks for this (and other) posts...the next time I'm over your way, let's have lunch! So happy to see green innovation in TN!
Jane Ann- We would love to arrange a lunch meeting if you are ever in Knoxville or us in Asheville (we love visiting Asheville as well)- always good to network. Knoxville is slowly become greener and education is the 1st step.
Spot on! A Home Energy Auditor I work with always starts with the leaks, otherwise you're just throwing the rest of your money and improvement benefits out the window. Proper sealing is the best first place to start. Thanks for sharing!!
-Tim