MAKE THESE UPGRADES TO SAVE ENERGY & BOOST YOUR HOME'S RESALE VALUE

As the temperature continues to fluctuate this Spring, we want to share some ways on how you can keep your energy costs down and keep more money in your wallet.

Source:  Realty Times Staff

Most homeowners would benefit from a home energy audit, especially those with older homes. An audit will uncover where your home is wasting energy and how to best remedy the situation. Remodeling your kitchen, bathroom or living room may add to your home’s resale value, but the following energy-efficient upgrades add value and save you money on your monthly utility bills - and you'll help the environment, too.

Replace Windows & Roofing

If you have old, drafty windows with loose frames or gaps that let conditioned air escape, you're losing money. Replace them with energy-efficient windows. You will improve your indoor comfort and reduce heating and air conditioning costs. In addition, window treatments can keep you cooler in summer and warmer in winter. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) reports that treatments such as awnings and blinds reduce solar heat gain by as much as 77 percent, and shutters and storm panels reduce heat loss in winter.

The same principle applies to your roof. A new, properly installed roof will lower your energy costs and increase your home's resale value, according to Champion Home Exteriors. Make sure you use a reliable contractor who knows how to properly ventilate the attic, or you risk mold and premature peeling of interior paint and wallpaper.

Seal & Insulate

Take the time to seal your home's walls, windows, vents and any other cracks or gaps, and consider adding insulation, too. Not only does this improve comfort and save on utilities, but it also reduces outside noise, prevents an inflow of dust, pollen, insects and debris, and provides better humidity control. Brett and Elna Wells of Shelbourne, Vermont, told Mother Earth News how they added 19 inches of insulation in their attic and added foam sealant around their foundation, and not only did they lower their energy consumption, but they received a $2,900 rebate from their electric utility, too.

Replace Siding

One of the home improvement projects with the best return on investment is replacing your current siding with new vinyl siding, according to Remodeling Magazine's Cost vs. Value Report. It provides a whopping 78 percent return on investment. To realize savings on your energy bill, make sure the contractor uses ENERGY STAR-rated underlayment and corner wrap to protect your home from moisture.

Get an Energy-Efficient Furnace

Linda Barnwell is a certified eco-broker with the real estate franchise company Keller Williams. She told Fox News that an energy-efficient furnace will boost energy savings and a home's resale value. Airtight homes with newer furnaces are what homebuyers are looking for, and it can even drive the outcome of a real estate deal. Sellers whose homes have furnaces that are 20 or 30 years old may see sales negotiations stall, or buyers may demand you replace the furnace as a condition of the sale.

If a professional home energy audit isn't possible, try using an energy saving calculator from the DOE.

Tired of of having to repair your furnace or insulate your home? Looking for a way out of your hold home & into a new one? Let us help you! We can answer any question about your real estate struggles. Give us a call today! (301) 467-1622

Silver Spring Neighbors Save Energy and Money

People in the DC Metro area know the importance and value of energy conservation. Recently, seven families in Silver Spring got together to save energy—and saved themselves some money in the process.

It started with one local couple attending a Takoma Park meeting about energy conservation, which got them really motivated to weatherize their home. They thought it was such an important idea that they checked a neighborhood listserv and contacted their Fairview Court neighbors, inviting them to a meeting at their home to hear more.  Also attending the meeting was WeatherizeDC, a local nonprofit that helps people with home weatherization.

Of the 13 townhouse residents who attended the meeting, seven families decided to have their homes weatherized.  Because they signed up as a group, the families also received a 15 percent discount on the work.  WeatherizeDC got quotes from local businesses and the Fairview Court folks chose Continuum Energy Solutions, a company based in Alexandria.

Each of the Silver Spring homeowners had specific needs, but one common fix was installing insulation as well as closing up cracks in walls and ceilings. These small improvements keep a house cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

Amazingly, this was the first time WeatherizeDC had ever worked with a group of homeowners, but things progressed with no issues and work on all the homes will be finished sometime in early September.  The average cost for each home’s weatherization was about $3,000, which the families will probably make up just in their first winter’s lower heating bills. Overall, they’ll be saving 15 to 25 percent on their energy bills.

So if you’re thinking of weatherizing your home, check to see if your neighbors are also considering it. If you’re a close-knit neighborhood, you might be able to join to together like the Silver Spring families and get a group discount on the work.  Sometimes there’s safety—and savings—in numbers.

Folks in the DC area are great citizens of the earth as well as wonderful neighbors and friends. Come and live among some really fantastic people! Contact me, Mynor Herrera, today for expert help buying or selling in the DC, MD, & VA areas! I also specialize in Bethesda and Chevy Chase, as well as the sub-divisions of Rosemary Hills, Rock Creek Forest, East Bethesda & Whitehall Condominium.

This Summer, See Green Outside and Inside Your Chevy Chase Home

When considering how to save money on energy, homeowners usually think about their heating bills.  But there are energy savings to be had in the summer as well, if you know where to look. Consider these tips to reduce the warm weather energy bills of your Chevy Chase home.

Start with light bulbs. Changing from incandescent bulbs to Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) will not only reduce energy use but also save money on bulbs, since CFL’s last many times longer. Summer or winter, unplug your appliances. Even when not in use, plugged-in machines draw power and increase your energy bills.

Placing insulating window wrap around any new windows is very efficient at keeping hot air out and cool air in, reducing energy loss around the window. In winter it works the opposite way, but still just as well. The Energy Star web site has information on available tax credits for these and many other types of energy upgrades. 

Most people don’t want to air condition their attic or their yard, but this may be happening if you have leaky ducts or poor attic insulation. To lower your energy bill, inspect these areas of your Chevy Chase home and make any necessary repairs.

Window air conditioners keep a house cool, but not very efficiently. Consider switching to a newer option: portable AC units. As the name implies, you can move these units from room to room, cooling only the area you’re in. They use an eco-friendly refrigerant gas and cost only from $300 to $500. The adjustable thermostat and 24-hour countdown timer will also reduce overall energy use.

For central air conditioning, it’s more efficient to leave the unit on at a higher temperature during the day while you’re away. Turning it off actually uses more energy as the unit has to work harder to cool down a very hot home. If you have a programmable thermostat, set it to turn down the temperature 30 to 45 minutes before you’ll be home.  Also remember to regularly replace your air filter and get proper servicing.

When all else fails, turn on the fans! Because they circulate and move the air, the need for air conditioning can be reduced.

Remember that with just a little effort summer can be green both outside and inside your home—with a little extra green in your wallet as well!

Contact me, Mynor Herrera, today for expert help buying or selling in the DC, MD, & VA areas! I also specialize in Bethesda and Chevy Chase, as well as the sub-divisions of Rosemary Hills, Rock Creek Forest, East Bethesda & Whitehall Condominium.