Top 10 Tips To Make Your Home Greener: Upgrading to Eco Friendly Adds Value!

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Urban Reserve

While all of the homes in the Urban Reserve development are ecologically sensitive, you don’t have to have a gorgeous, modern home to go green.

If you’re considering selling your home in the next few years, every dollar you spend on making your house more energy efficient will add value to your home — and sometimes help you make a profit!

Of course, there are some easy fixes and no-brainers, but these are the top 10 tips to get your house green before you sell!

10. Get an energy audit.

Sometimes your power company can help you get discounted services for energy audits, but like a thorough home inspection, finding out your home’s weak spots will help you capitalize on home renovations.

9. Seal your windows …

You’d be surprised how much air loss occurs on and around windows. A tube of caulking will help fix this issue, which is common in our area due to the fluctuations in humidity and temperature, which causes caulking to expand and retract.

8. … or replace them with Energy Star-qualified brands

This is a splurge, but it’s a huge selling point, especially in older homes. It’s hard to sell a home built in the 1950s with the original windows, so make the investment in some double-paned vinyl windows that will help keep your home cooler and lower your bills.

7. Mind the gap under your doors.

Replacing weather stripping around exteriors doors — including the garage door — can make a huge difference. They experience a lot of wear and tear, and aren’t expected to last much longer than a decade.

6. Install a radiant barrier.

If you think it gets hot in your attic, imagine how much cooler it would be if you installed reflective insulation, also known as a radiant barrier. This cuts cooling costs by keeping convection at a minimum.

5. Upgrade your insulation.

Insulation loses loft and R factor over time, so consider an upgrade if you haven’t already. The higher the R factor, the better, and there are lots of options and businesses that can do all the work for you and clean up afterward.

4. Consider water-friendly landscaping.

We love Conservation Grass, but there are other options such as xeriscaping and native plants. Our favorite landscape company, Harold Leidner Landscape Architects, can help you choose the water wise landscape that is best for your property.

3. Upgrade to a tankless water heater.

Not only does a tankless water heater use less energy, but you’ll waste less water waiting for the tap to heat up. Besides that, it’s definitely a selling point for any home.

2. Upgrade appliances.

Some people upgrade their cooktops, ovens, and ranges sheerly for looks. When buying a new kitchen appliance — like a refrigerator, for example — consider purchasing a brand that is energy stingy.

1. Have your air conditioning and furnace serviced regularly.

I got this tip last fall, and I can already tell that my A/C unit is running more efficiently. Just like cars that need oil changes, your HVAC units need regular tuning and maintenance, too.

Did we mess a good energy saving tip? Comment below!

 

Joanna England is the Executive Editor at CandysDirt.com and covers the North Texas housing market.

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