You may not be aware of it, but homes with energy-efficient upgrades will help attract more buyers if you plan to sell your home in the near future. Whether we’re in a seller’s or buyer’s market, these homes will be more attractive to buyers.
After all, who wouldn’t want a house that helps them save on energy costs, one of the most variable costs in your home budget?
So, if you want upgrades that increase home value and are wondering which home improvement projects to finance in 2024, consider these 5 energy-efficient home improvements.
Start With Your Foundation
Believe it or not, starting beneath your floor is one of the most fundamental ways to improve your home’s energy efficiency. Below the flooring of your home is your home’s foundation.
Whether you have a slab foundation, basement, or crawl space, this could be the source of a significant amount of air or leaks getting into your home.
Small holes or cracks in your foundation can leak energy out of your home. Additionally, having a build-up of termites or mold due to moisture issues in your foundation can erode it, allowing even more energy to seep out of your house.
So, when you want to create a much more energy-efficient home, ensure you’re not losing energy in a place few homeowners fail to consider: the foundation.
Improve Your Roofing
Besides your foundation, you should also turn to your roof to make sure that you aren’t losing a significant amount of your energy out of your home through your roof. Most roof types last 20 years are more if regularly inspected, cleaned, and maintained.
However, if you’ve neglected to get regular maintenance on your roof, there could be problems brewing right beneath the surface.
If you have asphalt shingles, they may be missing a substantial amount of granules that help deflect the sun’s UV rays and keep your roof cool. There could also be chipped, broken, or missing shingles, leaving your roof decking exposed to moisture which could eventually allow air or leaks into your home.
There could also be a build-up of moss or algae on your roof, which, if it remains uncleaned, can cause significant damage to your roof. So when you want to improve energy efficiency, make sure your roof isn’t a substantial source of energy loss.
Insulate Your Walls and Unfinished Spaces
Besides checking your home’s top and bottom, check the middle areas, too. For example, your exterior walls can be a significant source of energy loss due to a lack of proper insulation. The insulation in your home may need to be updated.
Or more may need to be added to block the effects of outdoor temperatures. Additionally, certain unfinished spaces of your home, such as your basement or attic, may have never had any insulation.
So, when it is hot or cold outside, your home is subject to significant temperature fluctuations that can increase your energy bills significantly. Therefore, improving the insulation is another important way to improve the energy efficiency in your home.
Switch To Solar Energy
Once you have combed every nook and cranny of your home, ensuring you aren’t losing energy in significant areas, investing in an alternative renewable energy source such as solar power is a good idea.
Solar Panels
According to Forbes, solar panels could cost between $3,500 to $35,000 on average. So, investing in the switch will be a substantial investment. After installation, it could take between five and ten years to break even on the initial investment.
But the relief you will have almost immediately after installation through a process called net metering will be well worth the switch.
From the moment your panels are installed until the end of their life, which is usually within 25 years, you will start to save. Your local energy company will pay you back by providing credits on your energy bill.
As your solar power generates more than enough power, your energy company rewards you for this excess which helps reduce your energy bill. So even though the initial costs are steep, it is worth it.
Remember that your initial costs can also be reduced by 30 percent if you qualify for the tax incentive currently provided by the federal government.
So from now until 2032, you can switch to solar and allow the federal government to help you save on these costs. Since these incentives are tied to taxes, you will have to wait until tax season to receive any benefit, however.
Solar Shingles
In addition to switching your power source over to solar, you may also want to consider alternative solar power sources. For instance, you may not want solar panels protruding from your home.
There are solar shingles on the market that provide a much more seamless look that fits well into your home’s architecture. These are much more expensive than traditional solar panels, but you can also take advantage of the tax incentive if you choose this option.
Solar Batteries and Generators
A few other solar add-ons you may want to consider are solar batteries and generators. Although your power source is separate from other homes in your neighborhood, you will likely still have a grid-tied system.
As a result, if there is a blackout, you will also experience a blackout. If you want to continue to use your solar service during blackouts, opt for these add-ons.
Buy Energy Star Products
One more great way to improve your home’s energy efficiency is to buy energy star products. The government backs these products for their ability to help consumers save on energy.
So when you see the energy star symbol on products, know that the federal government ensures that these products will help you cut costs. These are some of the typical products that may be backed by energy star.
- Windows and doors
- Appliances
- HVACs
- Water heaters
- Light bulbs and lighting fixtures
- Electronics
Whether you plan to sell your home soon or just want some great ways to cut costs of increasing natural gas and electricity bills, you should consider these tips for making your home more energy efficient.
As a result, you could reduce your energy bills by 25 percent or even more if you’ve switched to solar power.
