In London Ontario, we get some pretty hot summers and long cold winters. If you want to save money and increase the market value of your home, please read on.
A few relatively easy improvements can increase the comfort of your home, reduce your energy costs and improve your property's resale value. According to a recent Royal LePage survey, 72% of Canadians intend to look for a "green" improved home in their next purchase, and 63% would pay more for an environmentally friendly home.
I hope the following tips will help you plan your energy efficiency improvements with a focus on increasing the resale value of your home.
Audit Hire a home energy auditor to identify upgrades that will save you money. There are government grants and rebates available to help offset the cost of an energy audit. For details, see the Natural Resources Canada website.
Seal Caulk and weather strip air leaks around windows, doors, vents, electrical and plumbing. Identify and seal leaks in attics, attic access hatches, basements and crawlspaces, and properly seal ductwork to save on heating and cooling costs.
Insulate Install or upgrade insulation to minimize heat transfer. Research the minimum R-values recommended for insulating floors, walls and attics. In London, upgrading the attic insulation to R40 or even R50 can save you a lot of money on both your heating and air conditioning costs.
Replace When I'm helping home buyers, the efficiency of the furnace, air conditioner, windows and doors are among the first things I look at. Consider replacing older heating and cooling systems with higher efficiency units that reduce energy use. Replacing filters regularly will increase the efficiency of both your furnace and air conditioner.
Leaky doors and windows typically waste huge amounts of energy. After replacing the windows and doors in my own home two years ago, my gas bills dropped about 40% and the house is much more comfy.
Control To reduce your heating and cooling bills, invest in a programmable thermostat. You'll find your home will be just as comfortable but at a much lower cost.
Water Fix leaky faucets and choose efficient fixtures to save on water and energy consumption. At minimal expense, you can insulate hot water pipes and wrap the water heater to conserve energy and your costs.
Lighting Long-life compact florescent bulbs utilize up to 75% less energy than standard bulbs. Dimmer switches also help reduce energy consumption and promote longer bulb life.
Landscape Believe it or not, trees help us save on heating and cooling costs. Planting deciduous trees beside windows facing south and coniferous trees beside windows facing north will make your home more comfortable and save money.
Shop Wisely Most of us now look for the Energy Star symbol when purchasing appliances, home systems and electronics to help save on energy costs and reduce emissions. For more information on Energy Star, visit http://www.energystar.nrcan.gc.ca/
Greening your home will help reduce your energy bills, promote a healthier planet and increase the resale value of your home. If you have more tips to share on energy conservation, please let me know.
And if you need names of reputable contractors to help with these improvements, I'd be glad to help.
budloughlin@royallepage.ca
