I get Realtor® Magazine because, well I’m one of them lol. Over the last few years, energy issues have become more prominent ‘need’ items on home buyer lists. For example, 2009 surveys found that buyers listed energy efficient appliances as very important. I find that home sellers are not as attuned to green or energy efficient issues…although they automatically are if things like furnaces and windows are newer.
Just a few thoughts for today:
1. No matter if you are selling your home or just living a happy life in your community, you can ask your utility providers (like First Energy, for example), to do an energy audit on your home. Sometimes a private contractor will also do it for free or a small fee. You could make a wish list of things to do to improve your home for a) sale or b) lower monthly bills!
2. New green homes are fabulous. EcoVillage’s town homes, at least the ones who opted in for solar panels, seem to pay about $75/month year round for utilities. All this is good. If you live in a sufficiently ‘green’ home like the one above, there IS one thing you might want to check out. The tighter your house, the more chances exist for a radon gas issue. Some communities (mostly lake side) have always had a higher ‘watch’ for radon, but now green homes should be added to the list.
The good news is, radon testing and radon issue abatement are both simple and low cost. Remember when we all started putting carbon monoxide alarms in our homes? Just think of radon as a similar issue, IF you have a nice, tight house with low bills.
3. There is still a Federal Tax Credit for repairs/replacements like new windows. If you have been meaning to get them, now might be the time. Check with your tax preparer to get the details on what’s available tax-wise. Other things like weatherization qualify too. If you want to do a preliminary check on tax credits for energy issues, you can go to the Energy Star site here.
The Government has an energy services website for info on choosing energy efficient appliances wisely. They make a wise comment on this site: ‘….don’t make a purchase decision until you think you understand your choices and the trade-offs you are making…’
4 responses so far ↓
1 Beth // Jul 27, 2010 at 12:20 pm
I plan on building one of the new green modular homes that are available because they are a good price and will save me money in the long run. It is difficult me to make too many green changes in my current old home, so I think this is the way to go!
2 Carole Cohen // Jul 27, 2010 at 6:57 pm
I’ll keep watching your site for updates, that sounds like a wise decision since you can apparently afford it! I checked out your link and the designs are very pretty. Awesome!
3 Cristina // Jul 29, 2010 at 10:27 am
Another energy efficient tip is to use a smart meter. You can track how much energy you are using on a daily basis. http://bit.ly/b1kZAE
4 Carole Cohen // Aug 1, 2010 at 5:46 pm
Great tip, Cristina, ty. People can go to http://www.smartmeters.com for detailed info.
Love your ‘energy game’ link, going to play later when I sit down with a cup of coffee!
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