Top Green Home Improvements to Add Savings to Your Home and Wallet

Nowadays “green” home improvements are moving to the top priority of homeowners’ lists. Green can be described in numerous ways, depending who you ask, but ultimately there is one basic recipe: environmental friendliness.

Wood and granite counter tops are not the only environmentally friendly upgrades you can make. You should start with factors that affect your utility bill so you are not using unnecessary amounts of energy. Large utility bills are completely preventable! 

Energy efficiency is now becoming standard in many new construction homes and has significantly increased in existing homes. Ultimately, all green projects around the home should reduce the monthly utility bill and be kind to the environment.  Energy reduction is the key component to being green. We would like to provide you with the top 4 green home improvements to help achieve power bill savings and environmental friendliness.

Top Four Green Home Improvements for Converting Your Home:

1. Upgrade To An Energy Star Kitchen: One of the more obvious green home improvement investments is the kitchen. It should be on the forefront of your home improvement checklist. The kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s the room that sets the mood when a guest or potential buyer walks in. In addition, it’s where most of the major load creating electrical appliances are located. High draw electrical appliances are the bread and butter when it comes to your utility bill. In terms of green home improvements, Energy Star rated dishwashers, refrigerators, and washer/dryer sets are a must-have!

2. Improve Attic Insulation: Spray foam insulation is the best return on investment improvement you can make when it comes to greening your home. Your attic is where heat escapes during winter months, then seeps out over summer months. Attics can reach extreme temperatures of 170 degrees during the summer if they are not properly insulated! Now is the perfect time for you to take a peek into your attic and see what type and level of insulation you have. The problem with fiberglass or blown-in insulation is that it compresses over time and loses its efficiency properties. Spray foam insulation lasts FOREVER! It never loses its efficiency or needs to be replaced! It also reduces your utility bill by a dramatic 30-40%!!! Now THAT is what we call being green!

3. Maintain A Constant Temperature:  Upgrading to a programmable thermostat is definitely a smart green home move. Not only is it easy, but it’s one of the least expensive green home improvements you can make. It’s almost a staple for any home nowadays. There are also Remote Learning thermostats that you can control from your smartphone or computer.

You can adjust your thermostat right from your office before you begin your commute. That way the temperature of your home will be just the way you like it by the time you pull into the drive. We will see this type of temperate management a lot more in the future with products such as the Nest smart thermostat.  It has sensors that will learn your home habits and operate accordingly. Depending on which programmable thermostat you purchase, return on investment will range somewhere in between 4 months to 1 ½ yrs.

4. Upgrade To Energy Star Windows: If you have single pane windows in your home, you may want to move this one green home improvement to the top of your list. Old windows cause drafts that affect your heating and cooling costs in addition to your level of comfort. Energy Star rated windows are the way to go for maximum comfort and energy savings. When upgrading your windows, make sure the ones you choose are double-paned and filled with argon gas for maximum energy efficiency. An upgrade like this can save you up to 25 percent on your electric bill which puts some green in your home AND in your pocket!

As you can see, green home improvements are wonderful investments! They are worth every penny because they pay for themselves over time thanks to power bill savings. If you can reduce your energy use you will also reduce negative impacts on the environment. Best of all, energy efficiency increases your home’s value!