Energy Efficient Upgrades that Add to the Value of Your Home

Table of Contents

1. Energy Star Certification
2. Solar Panels
3. Low Maintenance Landscaping
4. Artificial Turf
5. Upgrade your appliances
6. Add an extra layer of insulation[+]
   1. Update to energy-efficient windows
   2. Poorly insulated windows led to a waste of energy therefore, upgrade to efficient windows.
   3. Install an efficient water heater
7. Install a programmable thermostat

Homebuyers may have been happy to compete in bidding wars and outprice their competition in 2021, but that was before recording high inflation.

While 2022 is still a seller’s market, buyers may not be as willing to purchase a home that does not have the key features they are searching for. In particular, key features that will reduce their utility costs. High energy bills are caused by an increase in natural gas and electricity prices.

According to 48% of real estate agents surveyed, homebuyers are increasingly prioritizing energy efficiency in their home search. Key areas where energy efficiency in a home is highly desired are California, Florida, and Texas.

These are key energy-efficient upgrades that will make your home more appealing to buyers and will add value to your home.

Energy Star Certification

Energy Star is a government-backed symbol for energy efficiency that protects the environment and helps consumers save money through energy-efficient products and practices.

The most popular Energy Star-certified item among home buyers is windows. Energy-star certified windows significantly reduce energy loss and in turn utility bills. Other Energy Star certification items that are popular among home buyers are washer and dryer units, dishwashers, and refrigerators.

These items use far less energy than older models. For instance, an Energy Star refrigerator uses 10% less energy than one that is not Energy Star certified.

Solar Panels

But with rising utility rates, more and more homeowners and home buyers are gaining interest in solar panels. Nationally, solar panels add close to $6,000 to the value of your home.

The Pacific region still has the highest increase in home value, with close to $12,000. However, areas such as the South Central and Midwest region have seen increases of over 20% in the value of homes that have solar panels.

Low Maintenance Landscaping

Landscaping can be much more beneficial than just visual interest around your home. Low-maintenance landscaping can reduce water consumption and lower utility bills. Recently, homeowners have selected native plants, flowers, and grasses to fill out their landscaping.

Rewilding is ‌low-maintenance gardening that nearly a quarter of real estate agents believe will promote your home. Rewilding uses fewer chemicals in favor of organic weed and pest control methods.

It also promotes the natural growth of plants that are native to the area. These plants should be allowed to grow wildly without interference. Rewilding is not neat and tidy, but it can be beautiful when planted correctly.

If you live in an area that is prone to drought you can take your water savings even further with xeriscaping. Xeriscaping is a type of landscaping that minimizes water use while maintaining the soil by using native and drought-tolerant plants. Xeriscaping promotes water conservation and reduces the use of fertilizers and pesticides.

Plants that are most often used in xeriscaping are succulents, drought-tolerant shrubs and trees, and plants that are native to the area. Xeriscaping is only considered valuable by 16% of agents and is most appropriate in areas that experience drought.

Artificial Turf

Few homeowners envision adding artificial turf to their backyard if they live in cooler wet regions of the country, but for homebuyers in hot drought-prone areas, an artificial turf lawn is very popular. States such as Arizona have seen a large increase in synthetic grass because of its water-saving abilities.

Water usage in drought-prone areas can skyrocket during the warmest months, but artificial turf can reduce water usage by 30% and could save homeowners $3,600 a year on lawn care. Artificial grass is most valuable in the Pacific region and South-Central region.

Upgrading to more energy-efficient features can increase your home’s value and attract more buyers. With rising inflation and home buyers carefully watching their monthly bills, energy-efficient features will be a key factor to add to your home if you are looking to sell a home in 2022.

Upgrade your appliances

You can upgrade your appliances over time for an energy-efficient upgrade. Always check the life expectancy of your current appliances because they become less efficient at the end of their lives.

Washing machines, dryers, and refrigerators are the need of every home and consume a high amount of energy. Upgrade to such appliances which consume less energy.

Add an extra layer of insulation

A quality ventilation system will improve your home’s energy efficiency. Make sure all areas in your home, such as the basement, should be insulated. An insulated ceiling will keep the warm or cold air inside. It will improve the overall comfort of your home and reduce the cooling and heating costs.

Replace power bulbs with energy-efficient lighting.

High-power lightning bulbs consume a large amount of electrical energy therefore, replace the power bulbs with LED models. LED bulbs consume 90% less energy than the standard bulb and last 15 times longer than that.

Water Systems

HVAC Systems

HVAC Systems maintain the humidity level in the room and also help in keeping cool and warm air inside. It is energy efficient because only one system can help in heating, cooling, and ventilation.

Update to energy-efficient windows

Poorly insulated windows led to a waste of energy therefore, upgrade to efficient windows.

Install an efficient water heater

The most energy-consuming thing in your home is the electric heater. These heaters are easy to install but they have a lower expectancy, not over ten years. Replace your heaters with tankless water heaters because they have a life expectancy of 20+ years.

Tankless heaters use 10%-30% less energy than storage heaters. You can save almost $100 a year by using a tankless electric heater. A storage heater is very commonly found in homes but a tankless water heater will make you stand out from the crowd.

Install a programmable thermostat

If you want to reduce energy costs, you can install a programmable or smart thermostat. It will allow you to change the temperature throughout the day.

Conclusion

Saving energy becomes important nowadays because countries are running out of energy. This problem can be solved by taking small steps. We can replace old or high-energy-consuming appliances with appliances that are less energy-consuming and have a high life expectancy.

Thank you for reading!