When a housing market plummets homeowners must do everything they can to preserve the value of their home. Making upgrades to increase energy efficiency not only benefits your wallet when the bills come at the end of the month but the longevity of the house as well. Greener products and practices such as air zoning, adding insulation, adding weather stripping, and shower valves can all help increase your home’s value in a variety of ways. Here is a breakdown of how these upgrades can impact the living conditions of a home and why they are the best investment you can make for your home:
Image Credit: Somar International Ltd.
Healthier Air
Medical professionals have discovered that various forms of bacteria and allergens survive much better in dry air than humid. During the winter time so many people tend to get sick or have worse symptoms of asthma and allergies due to the air in the house because the heat is turned up so high. If you use an HVAC system with a built-in humidifier you can decrease the amount of allergens, viruses, and other harmful bacteria in the house and feel warmer at an even lower temperature.
Preserved Structure
Regular weather-stripping on the roof can prevent leaks from getting into undesired places and cause molding. Places that typically have less insulation such as attics can also be sealed to better store harmful air caused by mold if it forms form leaks. A house that has been lived in for thirty years already has a decreased enough value with age. Taking care of what you have over time is a lot healthier and cheaper than trying to remodel or add a room to the house just to increase value.
Protect the Interior
In addition to eliminating harmful disease causing bacteria, the moist humid air from humidifiers will not cause as many cracks in wooden floors, furniture, or walls. Dryer air tends to wither paint surfaces faster and as well as make your wooden less sturdy over time. Insulation is another thing that can preserve air and temperature in the home. A convenient way to add quick value to a home is to put more insulation in the attic. It will provide cleaner air for that part of the house, be a lot cheaper than adding more to the walls, and regulate temperature that much more.
Savings
The money these customizations save is a great number to be able to brag about. Green upgrades that help regulate temperature, cleanliness of air, and preserve the structure of the house could easily add up to 5% more value to a home as well as save those living there thousands of dollars over time.
The benefits of investing in greener home living guarantee a home to last longer and be more habitable in the present. Those with larger family homes would especially do well to adopt more energy efficient practices as they will more than likely want to sell one day when the kids are gone. Why not start earlier and save money on repairs and health costs?
Author Bio: Griff Haeger is an environmentalist and avid writer who specializes in home improvement for energy recovery. When he’s not at working fixing up air conditioners he enjoys jogging and playing with his dog, Diesel.
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