Talk of adding a so-called green tax to homes as part of the cost of buying a home has received a lot of attention recently. Regardless of how whether the tax ever sees the light of day, there is no debate that an energy efficient home is a more desirable option. Here are a few ideas to make your home more environmental friendly as well as easier to heat and cool throughout the year.
First, have your home inspected thoroughly. Pay close attention to such matters as insulation and seals around the doors and windows. Often, a few corrective measures such a replacing worn attic insulation or adding insulation between walls, and sealing small cracks around openings will make a huge difference in the gas and electricity costs.
If your home is equipped with a central heating and cooling system, make sure the thermostat is working properly. A faulty thermostat can cause the system to run longer than necessary to maintain the desired indoor temperature, which in turn means it takes more power to heat and cool the home. Replacing a faulty thermostat can significantly reduce your utility costs over the course of a year.
Taking the time to make these simple improvements in your home can make all the difference to prospective buyers. Lower utility costs means more money to divert to paying the mortgage or adding a little more each month to an Isa or other retirement plan. If you’re serious about selling, have your home energy efficiency evaluated today.
Tags: gas and electricity, mortgage
