subject: Attract Home Buyers with Green Renovations [print this page] According to the Green Building Council study, 70% of home buyers are more inclined to purchase a green home than a conventional home during a down housing market. With the housing market currently down, sellers need to stand out from the pack. Green upgrades in only a few areas can make a big difference on the energy bills, and with just a few changes, a house that has been sitting on the market for some time can become a quick sell thanks to its environmentally friendly features. Here are 3 of the easiest and cost effective solutions:
1. Buy appliances that use less water and electricity. Many companies sell appliances like washing machines and dishwashers that use 10 to 15% less energy and water than standard models.
2. Change heavily used lights with energy-efficient models. According to the U.S. Department of Energy ENERGY STAR program, if every American home replaced its 5 most frequently-used light fixtures, such as the kitchen ceiling lamps, outdoor lamps or the living room lamps, with fixtures that have earned the ENERGY STAR, almost $8 billion would be saved each year in energy costs and greenhouse gasses reduced at the rate of almost 10 million cars. A 60W bulb only uses about 13W of energy.
3. Keep inside air from escaping. Seals around windows and doors can break or be damaged over time and need to be replaced. Homebuyers shopping for a new property tend to check the house's summer and winter energy bills, and a properly sealed home can change those bill amounts significantly to make a house more attractive.
