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Add green upgrades to your home

protect your sweet homeIncrease the value of your home

  • Whether you wish to increase the value of your home, or Add green upgrades to your home. Energy efficient upgrades that will lower your monthly bills, knowing which improvements will give you the most bang for your buck is important.
  • Not only will you reduce your carbon footprint, you will save money on utilities, and increase the overall value of your home, as much as 35%. Since green, energy-efficient homes are as prominent as ever, you shouldn’t run into any problems if you’re in the market to sell.
  • From solar panels, to energy efficient appliances, let’s take a look at a few ways you can add green upgrades to your home.

Add green upgrades to your home

Insulation

  • In terms of energy efficiency, the type of insulation you use throughout your home, whether for attic, walls, or ceiling, is important. Although, most high quality, green materials are more costly than its lower quality counterparts, you can expect to see a return via utility savings over 2-3 years after installation.

Fiberglass offers an eco-friendly solution

  • Blown in fiberglass insulation is one of the best alternatives in terms of quality, and efficiency. Fiberglass offers an eco-friendly solution for your home, and the environment, as it is made from renewable resources, such as recycled glass and sand.
  • This versatile material is much smaller than its lesser quality alternative, batts, and therefore can easily get into tiny cracks, and awkward corners, creating a more airtight effect that prevents air from flowing through small spaces.
  • In addition, blown in insulation adds a moisture resistant component, that helps to prevent mold, and odor within your home.

Solar Power

  • Although solar power is a costly investment, it will ultimately save you thousands in the long run. It helps to combat greenhouse gas emissions, greatly reducing air, and water pollution.
  • Not to mention, governmental incentives, such as tax breaks, and rebates, can help to cut the costs of solar power installation, and equipment in half.
  • You can also expect to save anywhere between $20,000-$65,000 over the course of 20 years, depending on where you live. It is not hard to see why solar powered homes have become more desirable in the past decade, greatly increasing the value of the home as well.

Low-E Glass

  • Low-E or low emissivity windows are covered in a film-like (microscopic layers of metallic oxides) coating that allows lots of sunlight into the house, trapping warmth, and preventing drafts in the cooler months. In the warmer months, this transparent film protects your home from harmful UV rays, and helps to reflect the sunlight to aid in cooling of the home.
  • You can expect to save up to $450 a year on utilities by upgrading the windows in your home to low emissivity glass. Low-E glass comes in both single, and double pane options.

Energy Star Appliances

  • Energy Star qualified appliances operate via advanced technology, using 10% to 50% less energy than its standard counterparts. Basically, these energy efficient appliances use less energy to produce the same effect.
  • You will save money, and reduce emission of greenhouse gases by switching to these improved versions of standard home appliances.

Low-flow water fixtures

  • Low flow water fixtures are sink faucets, shower heads, and toilets that use less water per minute than its traditional counterparts. This is achieved through a high-pressure technique, which produces a strong flow of water with less water than the older models. Low-flow models are relatively low cost, and will aid in conserving water, saving you money.
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