Looking at a new home? Well, don’t forget to look into energy efficient properties! With the new “green” trend that is popular now, many builders and homeowners are engineering their properties to use less power, and do more with what is available to them. Regardless of if you are into the eco-friendly movement or not, you can cash in on these super-efficient homes that put money in your pocket every time an energy bill is due.
In fact, you could even raise your home budget by purchasing an energy saving home. You see, by saving an extra $50 per month in utility bills, you can put that $50 a month towards the mortgage payment for a nicer home! Of course, you can also just save the $50 a month and come out on top in that fashion. $50 is just an example, of course, efficient homes can save you hundreds per month, and thousands every year!
Look for homes with good insulation, and added siding that helps keep hot air in during the winter, and cool air in during the summer. Double-pane windows are also a sign of an energy efficient home. The heat and air unit is the number one consumer of power, and you should make sure the system is modern, well maintained, and energy star rated. Radiant heat under hard floors is becoming more and more popular, and actually saves energy - it turns out that it is much more efficient to warm the floors and let the heat rise, than it is to heat air and force it into the room.
There are other things you might not think of, such as a programmable thermostat that can automatically slack off while you’re at work, and simply kick on 20 minutes before you get home. These are great, because you still come home to a comfortable temperature, but the air unit isn’t working full blast all day while you are gone. Another hidden energy saver is large trees around the home - especially in warmer environments. Shading the home can automatically reduce its temperature by 10 degrees or more, resulting in much cheaper energy bills!
Though it may take a little digging, energy efficient homes are a great way to boost your savings and stuff your pockets with some extra cash.