Energy Efficient Remodels on the Rise

The remodeling world is also seeing an increase in going green and energy efficiency. Some of the popular items going into remodeled homes in the past year are wood pellet stoves, gas fire place inserts, new sidings and geothermal systems. It is normally the higher end homes asking for the higher cost geothermal systems.

But the top energy efficient remodel item in the past year is new windows. According to the Efficient Windows Collaborative, the heating bill for a 2,000 square foot home with energy efficient windows is 39% lower than a comparable home with single pane aluminum windows. The Efficient Windows Collaborative web site has some great information on windows but it does not include all window manufacturers, so don’t just think that the windows listed are the only choice. One quick point to remember is the U-factor. The lower the number the more efficient the product and also try to look at heat gain.

The bottom line is people want more energy efficient homes even when buying. Realtors have seen an increase in clients wanting to know more about the efficiency of the home. Some are even asking for an energy audit and then asking how much it would cost to upgrade certain products. This does not always increase the value of the home but it may make the home more efficient and more attractive to a potential buyer.

Bathroom and kitchen remodels still rank the highest in the cost to value calculations but energy efficient items are on the rise. With the tough economy of today, home owners are looking for more was to save money.

This can be called Green or Energy Efficient. Saving energy and natural resources in our homes falls into both categories.