With so much in the news about the real estate market, we’re hearing from you, our smart and savvy California Listings readers, that there are some big questions that remain. So, we’re turning to our neighborhood agent partners to answer your burning real estate questions in our recurring feature—Ask The Expert!
This week, San Pero experts Yoshiko Oest and Russell Nomura of Live South Bay Local to offer their take on greening up your home:
How can I create a more eco-friendly home that will create added value in the long run?
Did you know that improving energy efficiency in your home will result in reduced utility bills and improve the comfort of your home? In addition, some energy efficiency improvements will add money to your pockets and create added value in the long run.
While many people know about solar panels, there are a few not-so-obvious upgrades you can do to make your home more eco-friendly.
Weatherizing your home will help save money immediately by saving energy. The process includes sealing air leaks and adding insulation. According to Energy.gov, you can save 10-20 percent on your heating and cooling bill by sealing uncontrolled air leaks. In addition, once you complete air sealing, adding insulation reduces energy demand, resulting in further savings.
There is not a lot of data on how energy efficiency helps directly with the resale value of a home, however, upgrades such as replacing old windows with energy-efficient windows are considered a win-win. Replacing windows reduces heat gain and loss, which helps save energy and reduces the energy bill. Plus, per HomeLight, the ROI (return on investment) of replacing windows is 81 percent, which makes this home improvement not just eco-friendly and energy-efficient but will add value to your home!
If you want to make your home more eco-friendly and energy-efficient but don’t know where to start, ordering an energy audit by a certified auditor will help. They will identify and prioritize energy-saving improvements! You can also do a DYI audit using the Home Energy Saver tool at https://hes.lbl.gov/consumer.
To connect with Yoshiko and Russell, click here.