Tag Archives: insulation

how energy-efficient upgrades can increase your home’s value

Posted on December 7, 2016 | Leave a comment

Energy-efficient upgrades can not only shrink your utility bill; they can increase the value of your home.

Have questions about ee upgrades on your home? In SoCal contact the appraisers at www.scappraisals.com.

Homebuyers are becoming increasingly aware of the benefits of energy-efficient homes. In fact, they’re often willing to pay more for homes with “green” upgrades, says Sandra Adomatis, a specialist in green valuation with Adomatis Appraisal Service in Punta Gorda, Fla.

Just how much your home will increase in value depends on a number of factors, Adomatis says, like where you live, which upgrades you’ve made and how your home is marketed at sale time. The length of time to recoup the costs of green upgrades also depends on the energy costs in your area.

In 2014, upgraded homes in Los Angeles County saw a 6 percent increase in value, according to a study from Build It Green, a nonprofit based in Oakland, Calif., that works with home professionals. Upgraded homes in Washington, D.C., saw a 2 percent to 5 percent increase in 2015, according to a study Adomatis authored.

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Use a HERS Score When Shopping for A Home; Compare Energy Use

Posted on March 1, 2013 | Leave a comment

What: The Home Energy Rating System is a score for energy use that is designed to make it easier for consumers to compare homes. It’s often compared to the EPA fuel-efficiency stickers seen at new car dealerships — only for houses.

How does it work: The lower the index score, the more energy-efficient a home is. A new home that conforms to minimum current efficiency standards typically scores 100. By comparison, a home with a score of 70 should consume only 70 percent as much energy.

Can a low HERS score add value to your home? Contact the appraisers at www.scappraisals.com for your value questions. Southern California Appraisal Services is the West’s forerunner in green and energy-efficient property appraisals.

Who uses it: The score is recognized by the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency, and it is gaining influence among homebuilders and mortgage lenders. The Oceanside-based nonprofit Residential Energy Services Network oversees the training of independent contractors to rate homes fairly and consistently. RESNET also helps foster market demand for home energy ratings.

Q: When does the energy score come into play?

A: One of the things we’re asking of consumers is to know your score when you’re shopping for a home, so that you can tell the relative efficiency from one home to the other. Why is this important? Government-sponsored mortgage lender Fannie Mae has found that the cost of heating, cooling and hot water for a home is the highest cost of homeownership outside the mortgage loan.

Read entire article at: http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/mar/01/tp-keeping-score-with-energy/?page=1

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Energy Use Decreases In Newer Homes

Posted on January 23, 2013 | Leave a comment

There’s no question that homes have gotten larger, and are still getting larger, even in the face of slower sales and tighter mortgage qualifications. But in something of an anomaly, household energy use is decreasing, according to government statistics.

The reason: energy features built into newer homes. New houses are better insulated, so they use less energy to heat and cool.

The appliances are more efficient, and people living in even the biggest of houses tend to be more aware of the environment and energy waste.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, improvements in the efficiency of the building envelope, space heating, air conditioning, refrigerators and other appliances have all led to decreased consumption per household. For example, multipane windows are now the norm.

About 8 out of every 10 houses built since 1990 have double- or triple-pane, energy-efficient windows, the energy organization reports. About 44 million households have Energy Star refrigerators, and 41 million have Energy Star clothes washers.

In addition, about 40 million householders report using caulk or weather stripping to seal cracks and air leaks, 26 million have added insulation, and 68 million have at least some energy-efficient compact fluorescent or light-emitting diode lights.

Disclaimer: for information and entertainment purposes only

Tag Archives: insulation

how energy-efficient upgrades can increase your home’s value

Use a HERS Score When Shopping for A Home; Compare Energy Use

Energy Use Decreases In Newer Homes

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