Purchasing a home is one of the most important financial decisions of one’s life. The economy significantly affects the value of a property, and certain upgrades can ensure consistent gains. Homeowners must cater their improvements towards the market’s values.
Today, eco-consciousness promotes energy-efficient property upgrades, decreasing home’s environmental impacts. Homes with sustainable features are selling faster and at higher values than others on the market. Here are six systems, appliances, and materials one may add to their property as profitable, green-focused improvements.
1. Solar Panels
Eco-conscious purchasers search for homes that work to shrink their carbon footprints. An effective way to reduce residential emissions is by installing renewable energy systems. U.S. homes create nearly 20% of the country’s total greenhouse gas emissions.
Properties with solar panels are significantly more sustainable, and they sell for a higher value. Buyers view the renewable energy system as a valuable renovation, like a new kitchen or finished basement. Some solar homes sell for significantly more than the original asking price.
Homes with renewable energy are more efficient because of their limited reliance on the grid. Residents can power their entire property with a roof covered in panels. They also reduce home utility costs, improving a homeowner’s savings over time.
2. Energy Star Appliances
Homeowners can also improve the energy efficiency of their properties by replacing outdated appliances with more sustainable models. Washing machines, refrigerators, dishwashers, and more account for a significant portion of a homeowner’s electricity bill on average. Replacing older appliances with Energy Star variants can save a resident up to half of their energy costs.
Many buyers look for Energy Star appliances in a home, evaluating the potential price of monthly utilities. They also seek out energy-efficient devices to shrink their carbon footprints.
3. Smart Thermostats
Another energy-efficient system that improves a home’s value is smart thermostats. Residential heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems account for a large portion of a homeowner’s emissions. Smart devices can regulate the energy consumption of HVAC systems, decreasing their environmental effects.
Smart thermostats access real-time weather readings through Wi-Fi connections, altering indoor temperatures to decrease electricity use. They also use motion detection sensors, turning the system off when a home is vacant. The small device can significantly impact energy costs and atmospheric preservation, improving a home’s value on the sustainable market.
4. Wood Boiler
Individuals can further reduce the fossil fuel emissions related to home heating by installing a wood boiler. If residents are thinking of selling their houses, it is essential to evaluate the material trends on the market. Buyers are searching for non-invasive systems that use fuel sources and materials they are familiar with.
Powering a heater with wood rather than depletable resources can significantly improve a home’s sustainability. The appliances also reach optimal efficiency levels when operating at around 30% of their potential output. Enhancing the efficiency of an HVAC system using a wood boiler and a smart thermostat can increase the value of a property.
5. Solar Windows
Homeowners can also increase the value of their properties by installing solar windows. The new technology embeds solar cells into modern, transparent panes of glass, generating renewable energy. If a resident’s roof is incompatible with photovoltaic (PV) panels, they can add the windows to access equal benefits.
Some buyers prefer solar windows over panels because of their discreet appearance. Bulky panels can take away from the aesthetic appeal of a home. Individuals can decrease their energy costs and emissions with solar windows, increasing the selling price of their properties.
6. Increase Natural Lighting
U.S. commercial and residential buildings consume billions of kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. Most of the electricity used by lighting systems derives from emission-producing fossil fuels. Homeowners can increase the efficiency of their properties and shrink their carbon footprints by increasing natural lighting.
Adding more windows to a structure reduces the amount of energy used for indoor lighting. Skylights are effective at replacing incandescent bulb usage on sunny days. They can also raise indoor temperatures, decrease HVAC emissions in the winter, and save potential buyers money on utility costs.
Ensuring Valuable Upgrades
When homeowners are looking to sell, they can increase the value of their properties by hiring reliable and efficient contractors. Energy-efficient systems, appliances, and materials work to reduce surface and atmospheric pollution. When an inadequate installation worker breaks or degrades home features, they create more pollution, limiting a property’s sustainability.
Individuals can ensure the proficiency of home upgrade projects by hiring professionals with proper licensing. Homeowners can reference their state’s Contractor License Board to inquire about previous complaints or reports. When a resident researches their installation and construction professional before starting a job, they can reduce the risk of error and ecological degradation.
Where to Start
A homeowner may begin remodeling their property to increase its value by first receiving an energy audit. The audit will relay essential efficiency and energy loss information, helping residents choose the best appliances and renovation projects to enhance sustainability. Many buyers search for home features that lower their utility costs, so evaluating an upgrade’s effects on one’s energy bill is crucial.