People complain that going green costs too much green. A $50 lightbulb? Really?! But in the long term, loving mother earth is not only good for the gander – it’s good for the goose that lays the golden egg, i.e., your home. That investment you are sitting on? It’s just waiting for you to hatch a plan for a greener future.
Especially if you are looking to sell, it make a lot of sense (and cents) to emphasize the eco-friendly features of your home. Going green can create more value in the mind of any prospective buyer. But just like any investment, there are good ways and bad ways of going about it in order to maximize your return.
Here are 5 ways of going all green with your house without going nuts:
1. LIGHT IT UP
Stephen Colbert may have fought to keep incandescent light bulbs on The Colbert Report, but he’s about the only eco-evil holdout left. Seriously, the benefit of switching to energy efficient bulbs is no joke. Using CFLs (compact florescent light bulbs) can result in a 75% increase in efficiency over incandescent bulbs. CFLs are a lower tech, but also lower cost option to the much ballyhooed LED. A 13-watter will roughly cost you a Washington ($1) and a 5-watt bulb will run you a Jefferson ($2). Not only do CFLs cut money from the electricity bill, but they also last eight to ten times as long as traditional light bulbs. However, to get the full benefit of CFLs, you should use them in areas that are not too cold and where light is commonly used for more than fifteen minutes at a time. You can also try halogen or LED bulbs as even greater energy saving (but much more expensive) alternatives. Todays green lighting alternatives are reliable and cast a warm light that rivals that of incandescents.
2. NOT THAT KIND OF “APP”
“Green appliance” doesn’t entail reverting back to clotheslines or bicycle peddle-powered washers. We’re way beyond that! Replacing old refrigerators or washer/dryers with newer, Energy Star appliances can cut 10% off your energy bill. And that’s a great selling point to prospective home buyers who would like to keep their monthly costs down. But what about your costs? The state of California’s rebate programs for energy efficient appliances can also take some of the sting out of upgrading.
3. LOOKS MATTER
When it comes to stocking your home with green amenities, it is possible to have your desert and vegetables too. In fact, an environmentally conscious lifestyle doesn’t have to impede on your design aesthetic. Replacing kitchen and bathroom faucets with new, more eco-friendly ones is a great way to turn up the aesthetic meter of your home while turning down the water meter. Nowadays, you can even replace your kitchen’s countertop with recycled or environmentally conscious materials – something that a eco-friendly buyer can feel good about. And “recycled” doesn’t mean old bicycle tires and bottle tops. These resuscitated materials are available in every color and shape to match your taste an impress any prospective buyer.
4. DUCT, DUCT, PIPE
Insulation. OK; it’s not the most glamorous subject when it comes to home improvements. But even adding insulation to easily accessible areas such as -yes, ducts and pipes- can vastly improve the energy efficiency of your home. Making sure your home’s attic is properly insulated is also important due to the amount of cooled and heated air circulating in the area. Around 20% of the air in the attic can be lost if not properly insulated, so it’s important to increase your R-value to contain the air. Again, this is a feature In addition to insulation, it’s also wise to caulk and mend any cracks that may be present within your home, which can also let air out and increase the power bill significantly.
5. REAL GREEN
While there are many steps you can take to make the interior of your home more energy efficient, taking care of the exterior environment surrounding your home not adds curb appeal, but also helps save money and energy. Planting trees is one of the best projects you can take on for naturally conserving energy around your home. Before taking on your Captain Planet role, hit up Google and research which trees will be best for the appropriate season. Evergreen trees save energy by slowing cool winds and keeping your home warmer while simultaneously cutting down the energy bill. You can even plant your yard(s) with succulents and/or eco-friendly grass that requires less water.
So there you have it. Adding to your environmental cache can actually result in more cash. Make a few changes to your home to save the doe and you could end up making some real dough.
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