Nowadays we hear the term “energy efficient” a lot. And while some people may be familiar with it, others are not quite sure what it means but they’ve heard of its benefits. With energy efficient home renovations, you can save up to 40% in utility bills and lower your homeowner insurance, increase your property’s value by 5-8% and enjoy a healthier quality of life.
To put it simply, to make something energy efficiency is basically to reduce the amount of energy required to provide products and services. When choosing energy efficient home renovations your home becomes more sustainable for the planet, and for your pocket.
Yes, residential energy efficiency is an investment. But the financial benefits it yields are outstanding, coming in the form of both immediate month-to-month savings and huge future profits when the property is sold.
How do energy efficient home renovations lower homeowner insurance?
Your homeowner insurance works based on risks, right? Therefore, when you make a major upgrade to your home by switching to new windows or a new roof, you are reinforcing your house. This translates into a reduction in risk for which your home insurance will reduce considerably.
For example, a bad roof is more prone to storm damage. So, if your roof leaks, if there’s water damage or rotting wood, the repairs can be very costly in the long run.
According to a recent study made by Finder, a platform to help homeowners make the best decisions when investing, upgrading to a New Roof will lower your homeowner insurance from 5-20%. Switching to Impact Windows and Doors may lower it by 10-15%.
Boosting your property value for more conscious buyers
Over the last years, people have become aware of their impact on environment and the future of planet earth. This is why more buyers are willing to pay more for an energy efficient home.
In fact, the National Association of Home Builder conducted a survey where they found that if a home shows lowered energy costs of $1,000 annually, the average home buyer will be inclined to pay an additional $8,728 for those benefits.
Some energy efficient upgrades to lower your homeowner insurance and boost home value are:
Switching to Impact Windows and Doors
A great way to save energy –and embellish your home’s appearance inside AND out– is by switching to Impact Windows and Doors. Old windows may have cracked or loose glass which makes it easier for air to escape, making your home’s heating and air conditioning systems work harder.
And yes, you guessed it, higher energy bills. Impact Windows and Doors are hermetically sealed, meaning no air escapes or comes inside. This type of windows also come with a special film to repel UV rays and keep your home cool for longer.
Keeping your home cool lowers your energy bills, yes. But it also lowers homeowner insurance by up to 15% since your house is now less prone to risks of break-ins or storm damage.
Getting a New Roof
Whether your roof has been affected by climate, or just needs an upgrade, a smart choice is to replace it with a “cooler” roof. Cool roofs are basically roofing that’s either white or any other reflective color. They’re usually made of metal materials to absorb less heat and reflect sunlight away from the house.
This type of roofing can help the property stay about 50 degrees cooler while the summer months hit, which in turn results in lower energy bills. Talk about a game changer!
Not to mention that your new, reinforced roof has now made your house more safe, secure –and beautiful– which translates into reduced risks and therefore a lowered homeowner insurance.
Upgrading your HVAC
Did you know that upgrading your HVAC system has the greatest return on investment? Why? Because heating and cooling systems are usually the strongest increasers of your energy bill.
If your HVAC is more than 7 years old it is already consuming too much energy to successfully cool your house. A new one will work much more efficiently. With less energy consumption.
Switching to a new HVAC can save you around 30% of those expenses. It will also increase your property value as a new system requires less maintenance and provides higher quality of air.
Installing Solar Energy
A series of studies conducted by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) found that homes that implement solar energy are sold for much more than comparable homes without it. Just to cite an example, “an average 5-kilowatt (kW) solar panel system can add an additional $20,000 or more to your home’s value –and that’s before accounting for the monthly electricity bill savings”.
It’s a Win-Win Situation!
In a time where energy costs are rising dramatically, increasing the energy efficiency of your home is a wise choice. It will not only keep more money in your pocket today, but noticeably improve the market value of your property. For these reasons, energy efficient home renovations are actually a risk-free venture.
Whether you are looking to welcome grandkids into your home or expecting to sell it, you won’t go wrong on the decision to make your home more energy efficient starting today.
