10 Tips For Green Renovating
By Rebecca Brooks
By Rebecca Brooks
After price & location, surveys are now finding that energy efficient features are the next most important features to buyers. Even if you are not selling in the near future, improving your home's "green" ranking can save you money on energy costs & help save the planet.
There are many things you can do to increase your home's environmental friendliness. So... So... Some have small price tags & some are larger renos. Here are 5 small & 5 large projects to make your home more green.
Small Projects
- Replace your thermostat with a programmable one. Preferably get one that has settings for the week & weekend -- known as 5-2 or 5-1-1 programs.
- Replace old light bulbs with energy-saving bulbs. They come in a variety of sizes & styles for most applications.
- Paint with low-VOC or no-VOC paints. Volatile Organic Compounds can be released into your home for years after painting. Eco-friendly products improves the air quality for virtually virtually everyone living in the home.
- Get low flow taps or faucet aerators for your fixtures to reduce the water going down the drain.
- Caulk & weather seal around doors & windows to reduce drafts. You can get specialty gaskets to install behind electrical outlet covers also.
Large Projects
- If you are upgrading systems, go with Energy Star rated products. Appliances, heating & cooling systems, hot water tanks, windows, & more can be easily found that reduce energy loss & save you money.
- Upgrade your heating & cooling using geothermal, solar, or wind power to run your system.
- Replace toilets with dual flush or low-flow toilets (6L). These can save tens of thousands of litres of water per year per toilet.
- Increase your insulation in areas like your attic, crawlspace, and basement.
- Increase the insulation in your exterior walls. This is a major source of energy loss in older homes.
In Canada, you can get a pre-retrofit evaluation for your home from certain companies in order to qualify for the federal ecoENERGY grant. You will be provided with a report with recommendations for improving your home's energy rating. After performing the retrofits, you can get a post-retrofit evaluation, which will then determine what sort of rebate you are able to receive, up to $5,000. Most provinces are also offering other rebates or grants.
Rebecca Brooks is a founder of HotSpot Property, a property marketing company in Winnipeg, Manitoba. This article is adapted from her recent book, "Shakespeare for Sellers: A Complete Home Selling Manual." More selling, purchasing & marketing information can be easily found on the company website at http://www.hotspotproperty.ca