As a species, humans have wreaked serious damage on the planet and some of us are trying to do whatever we can to reduce our impact on the world around us. In terms of our homes, homeowners are making green home improvements to lessen their carbon footprint.
If you’re considering selling your home in the near future, insights for 2022 reveal the market will continue to favor sellers, but that could change in the second half of the year. You needn’t worry though, because you can make your house appeal to eco-conscious buyers with these green home improvements.
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Caulking and insulation
You’d be surprised by how much energy is wasted due to air leakage and poor insulation – especially in older homes. Homeowners can use caulk to seal up any cracks between window (and door) seals and the wall. It’s relatively easy to do, but Energy.gov has a caulking guide you can follow for easy to follow directions.
After caulking, you can improve your home’s insulation. It’s an easy green home improvement that doesn’t cost a lot and makes a huge difference in terms of regulating temperature indoors, as well as lessen the noise from outside.
Energy audit
An energy audit is when a professional comes to your house and does a room-by-room inspection and will analyze your energy bills. The professional will conduct airflow tests, thermographic scanning, and they’ll ask questions about your daily life. After the assessment is complete, the professional will make recommendations about how to improve your home’s energy consumption.
Replace windows and doors
Windows and doors are expensive to replace, but they can make a huge difference regarding energy costs and boosting curb appeal. With new windows and doors, you’re going to save money heating and cooling your house to be sure, but it’s also a quality of life upgrade. The elements and sounds from outside will be muted and you won’t have to fuss trying to open old windows that stick. It’s a double win!
Upgrade thermostat
Upgrading your thermostat may not seem like a home improvement because it’s such a small thing to do… But if your existing thermostat is old, you don’t have total control of your temperature. A new thermostat paired with a newer HVAC system means you’ll have the utmost control over how much energy is being used on top of controlling the temperature.
Plus, let’s not forget that smart thermostats can also save you money because they can be programmed from your smartphone, which means you can adjust the temperature while you’re away from home and it’ll be at the perfect temperature when you get home.
Upgrading appliances
Today’s home appliances are made with the environmental impact in mind. Old appliances are a drain on your energy bill, so upgrading to EnergyStar certified appliances is a no-brainer. Technology has improved a lot over the years and homeowners are seeing their energy bills decrease as a result.
In a perfect world, going green could be done overnight and cheaply. Unfortunately that’s not the case and going 100% green is going to take time. But, if you start making small improvements now, you’ll still see the benefits of living a greener life right away!
