There are many factors people use when determining where to buy a home. Despite the value, one consistently overlooked factor is the energy efficiency of the home. The energy efficiency or even a recent energy audit can drive the value of the home higher. According to The Appraisal Journal, for every $1 decrease in annual energy costs, the market value of a home increases by $20. If you decrease the energy costs by $300 per year, the value of the home increases by $6,000! Energy auditors often overlook this in their pitches – making energy renovations can improve the home’s marketability and resale value.
Comfort and Safety
Many homeowners will take measures on their own like caulking windows, adding insulation and filling-in leaky gaps, but energy auditors can identify energy leaks that aren’t so obvious or easy to find. A home energy audit involves a thorough inspection of the home, which can uncover hidden problems before they cause major, value-decreasing damage. For example, improper ventilation can cause mold or mildew growth, which may not be discovered until it becomes severe and costly repairs are required. Not only that, but home maintenance will be simpler because the homeowner will no longer have to scrub moldy windowsills!
Finances
Leaky windows and doors don’t just make the home drafty – they also make the monthly energy bill higher. With energy prices rising, potential homeowners are increasingly valuing the energy efficiency of a home when making buying decisions. Identifying and fixing these hidden leaks can not only save the homeowner up to 30% on their heating and cooling costs each year, but also on the potential expense of fixing things that don’t solve the problem and focusing only on which improvements will save the most money.
Certification and Professionalism
A certified home performance contractor will use state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment to perform a comprehensive home energy audit and determine how improvements throughout the home can work together to maximize energy efficiency and savings. A professional energy audit will identify a home’s vulnerabilities for around $300 to $500, which is almost immediately paid off in the home resale value. Detailed written reports on assessment results both before and after upgrades are provided and can be shown to potential buyers.
One diagnostic piece of equipment, he bright red blower door, measures the home’s “leakiness”. It provides crucial information about how quickly air moves through the home. Too fast, and the homeowner is wasting energy by heating air that will soon leak out of the house. Too slow, and the tight house may concentrate indoor air quality problems. Thermographic camera tests that use infrared images to assess the effectiveness of the home’s insulation also directly impacts a home’s comfort and energy efficiency performance. These are both tools that can only effectively be used by those who have been through quality energy audit training.
Rebates
Deciding to proceed with the recommended upgrades, not only could save up to 30% on the energy bill but taking advantage of rebates and financing offers can reduce the cost of the audit or upgrades significantly. However, the contractor matters; for example, to take advantage of Home Performance with ENERGY STAR rebates, the homeowner must work with a participating ENERGY STAR contractor. As the contractor, it is your responsibility to help determine the best improvements for the home and help the homeowner apply for rebates.
