Upgrades that enhance energy efficiency save money over time while decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and demand for non-renewable resources, and also increase home value.
With energy prices on the rise, eco-friendly upgrades are more important than ever before. Here are five energy-saving upgrades that could help lower monthly utility costs while simultaneously increasing resale value of your home.
1. Insulation
Insulation upgrades are one of the best investments you can make to increase comfort and save energy in your home, protecting it against heat loss during the winter and hot air from entering during summer. Insulation also significantly decreases heating and cooling costs while helping protect the environment.
Upgrades to insulation in your attic and basement can reduce heating and cooling costs by as much as 30-35%, cutting energy consumption and emissions from furnaces, boilers and electrical power plants significantly.
Most homes today already contain at least some insulation, but even newer homes can benefit from upgrading existing insulation and sealing air leaks. A virtual home energy assessment can help determine what improvements may be possible for your home and which options have the greatest impact. A good insulation upgrade should last throughout its lifecycle without needing replacement or further maintenance costs.
2. Windows
Replacing old double-pane windows with modern double-pane models is an effective green home improvement project to reduce energy costs and enhance comfort. New window designs also allow more natural light into the home while blocking UV rays that cause fabrics, wood furniture and upholstery to fade over time.
Windows account for up to 30% of heat loss in homes. When replacing them or simply updating your front door, be sure to choose windows with low U-factor ratings – this measures how much heat escapes through them.
Upgrades that make your home energy-efficient can bring great rewards – both financially and aesthetic wise! By investing in these projects, you can reduce energy bills while increasing property values for future owners. To discover which upgrades would bring the greatest return, contact HomeWorks Energy in Massachusetts or New York and schedule a professional home energy assessment today!
3. Appliances
When replacing appliances that have reached the end of their useful lives, consider switching to models with reduced energy usage. Even without changing your usage patterns significantly, these devices use much less power than similar models manufactured only a few years earlier. Look out for devices marked ENERGY STAR to find cost-effective options.
Switching out old lightbulbs for LEDs can make an immediate and profound impactful statement about how serious you take energy conservation. LEDs last up to 25 times longer and consume around 90% less energy.
Upgrades that increase energy efficiency can increase both your home’s value and reduce energy bills, often qualifying for tax credits. To find out more about energy-efficiency upgrades in New York homes, contact NYSERDA; their experts can identify areas where your energy use exceeds what is comfortable or recommended improvements that would create more comfortable energy-efficient spaces without needing professional assistance. Many improvements are easy-to-do!
4. HVAC
Upgrades that improve comfort in the home such as upgrading HVAC are crucial investments. Substituting old, energy inefficient appliances for new ones labelled energy efficient can save homeowners money while improving indoor air quality.
Selecting energy-efficient models of gas appliances such as furnaces or heat pumps is one way to cut energy usage and costs, such as furnaces or heat pumps. All-in-one air-source heat pumps may also be more energy-saving options.
As well as saving on utility bills, investing in an energy efficient HVAC system can also provide more even heating and cooling throughout your home – eliminating hot or cold spots in rooms, making your living experience more comfortable for those living with allergies or asthma. Plus, energy efficient systems emit fewer greenhouse gasses into the environment! With energy costs continuing to skyrocket, making an investment now in energy efficiency will not only save money in the long run but boost property values when selling time comes around!
