Summer is here, so you know what that means… it means it’s the perfect time for summer renovation projects! But with summer being here, do you know what that also means? It means higher than normal energy bills. With summer bringing the heat, and it being the perfect time for home renovation projects, why not combine the two and start summer renovation projects that promote energy efficiency in your home? That’s multitasking at its finest!

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Summer renovation projects that promote energy efficiency should do two things for your home. They should save you money on your energy bills and they should increase the value of your home.

Creating an energy-efficient home can be done in many different ways, but remember, the key is to make sure the renovations add value to your home. Some homeowners will start with small projects that lower their energy costs first. For example, some homeowners will take on small projects like installing weather strips around the doors and sealing their windows. 

Those are what you would call “quick fixes,” and although those quick fixes will help you save significantly on your energy costs, they don’t add real value to your home. With the larger projects, that’s where you’re going to get the biggest bang for your buck. The more you invest, the bigger the savings will be, which also translates into a drastic increase in property value.

But before you jump into your energy-efficient projects, you first want to get a home energy audit. Typically, you can get a free or reduced energy audit on your home with your local utility company. But if not, you’ll need to find a professional energy auditor to assess your home. 

According to HGTV, these home energy audits can cost, on average, $500 but range anywhere from $165 to $1000. So if you do find a professional home energy auditor, just make sure they’re certified by the Building Performance Institute or the Residential Energy Services Network.

Once your home has been audited, you’ll be provided with a report on your home’s energy performance and given a list of recommendations for the types of energy-efficient improvements to make to your home.

So if you’re serious about taking on some home renovation projects that promote energy efficiency, make sure they increase the value of your home too. Here are some of the top summer renovation projects that promote energy efficiency and increase the value of your home as well.

With a programmable thermostat, you’re going to improve the efficiency of your heating and cooling by setting the climate control systems. What does that mean for you? That means that you can turn the temperature up or down when nobody’s home. The best part about it is that once your thermostat is programmed, your temperature settings will automatically activate without further manual input.

Solar panels have powered homes for many years and have been dubbed as one of the top ways to make your home more environmentally-friendly. Unfortunately, not too many people have a complete understanding of how they work. Lots of people tend to think that in order for solar panels to power a home, the sun has to be out… that’s a huge misconception about solar panels. 

In fact, solar panels can power a home with or without sunshine… It’s all about the photovoltaic cells that capture the sun’s energy, whether the sun is visible or not. As long as the solar panels can capture the sun’s energy, then your home will have power.

This particular project definitely requires the skills of a professional installer. Companies like Kansas City Solar Panels is a reputable company with skilled professionals to meet your home’s unique needs. This is a project that will drastically reduce your home’s energy costs and significantly increase your home’s value.

Install Energy-Efficient Doors and Windows

 

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Again, you can always caulk your windows and add weather stripping around your door but in your efforts to increase the value of your home, you’re going to want to go on and have energy-efficient doors and windows installed.

Your new energy-efficient doors and windows are going to keep your home’s interior temperature regulated simply from preventing hot or cold air to escape. Caulking and weather strips sometimes give way to tiny cracks and openings for air to seep out. This renovation can be costly upfront but just imagine the savings on energy you’ll have in the long run.

Check with your door and window installer to see if the doors and windows qualify for PACE (property assessed clean energy) financing.