Burn Calories With A Fence

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When you make that old resolution to lose weight beginning on Jan. 1, you are probably setting yourself up for failure. You will go all out to begin with, but after a few weeks you will burn out and you won’t feel like working out anymore. The rest of the year will go by and again on Jan. 1, you will try the resolution again. It won’t always work out, so what can you do to lose weight and not give up?

The solution comes in the form of doing home maintenance, which is excellent exercise for the body. When you do home maintenance, you are able to get fit through the simple action of improving your home and your yard. You can burn as much as 576 calories an hour just shoveling snow, or 400 calories an hour mowing the lawn. Raking leaves takes up 384 calories as well.

Did you know though, that with the help of a fence, you can burn thousands of calories? Here is how.

First, building a fence will burn 340 calories per hour. It will probably take at least 10 hours to build a fence, and that means burning 3,400 calories total over the course of a week. That is a huge amount to burn, especially if you supplement it with eating healthy. In addition, you can wash a fence and burn 238 calories per hour. If you are painting a fence, another task that can take 10 hours, you can burn 2,380 calories over that course of time.

Something as simple as a fence can help you burn a lot of calories, help you get in shape and help you feel healthy and better about yourself. Oh, and you improve the market value of your home. No gym can do that. 

8 Worst Home Improvements

“With many factors to consider such as cost and time, deciding what remodeling projects to undertake can be a difficult decision for homeowners,” said National Association of Realtors® President Steve Brown. “Every neighborhood is different and the desirability and resale value of a particular remodeling project varies by region and metro area. Before undertaking a remodeling project, homeowners should consult a Realtor® as they are the best resource when deciding what projects will provide the most return upon resale,” said Brown.

1.       Home office remodel: You will only get back about half of the money you invest to create a home office when you sell your home. That's because even though more people are working out of their homes these days, not all buyers want a space dedicated exclusively to work. Such features can make it hard for a new owner to use the space as a bedroom if they wanted to. 
2.       Sunroom addition: Homeowners who add a sunroom to their house recoup on average sellers are lucky to recoup about half of their investments. Homeowners who are willing to sink $73,000—the average cost of a sunroom addition—into their house would be better off investing in a different home improvement project.
3.       Bathroom addition: Homeowners who build a bathroom addition recoup on average only about 60 percent of the project's cost when they sell the home, according to the report. However, homeowner's true return on this particular investment depends on how many bathrooms they already have. Homes with one less bathroom than comparable properties in the neighborhood would be better served by this project. If you are a bathroom short compared to other homes in your neighborhood, then it is going to make more sense.      
4.     Backup power generator: Homeowners who obtain a backup power generator recoup on average only about 59 percent of the project's cost when they sell the home, according to the report. Although most homeowners don't consider a backup power generator essential, its popularity varies a great deal from one region to another. 
5.     Garage addition: Homeowners who build a garage addition recoup on average about 62 percent of the project's cost when they sell the home, according to a report by National Association of Realtors  The limited versatility of a garage doesn't necessarily justify its high cost, which can average more than $58,000. A garage addition project is a labor intensive effort, often requiring builders to pour a slab, construct walls, and build a roof, among other things.
   
6.     Master Suites unless you plan on living in your home for many years to come you will only get about 60% return on your investment.
7.     Family Room Addition: The average cost of adding a family room can add as much as $80,000. If you really want to do add the room, do it for your family, not for the ROI.
8.       Pools. In ground pools are costly and do not add to the home’s value. Some buyers are turned off because of the high maintenance and insurance costs.

Top 10 Best Valued Home Improvements

Since the real estate market is looking up you may be thinking about selling your home and buying a home you have been dreaming about for a while. If so than its time to focus on some home improvements or repairs you might have been putting off. Here are the top 10 home improvements that will bring you the most bang for your buck, according to the 2014 Cost vs Value report. This report is organized by region, unfortunately it is not specific to Savannah. So this list and estimated amount recouped is an average in the South Atlantic and I added their estimates for Charleston SC as a comparison since it is a coastal city.

Project	South Atlantic	Charleston SC
1.      Entry Door Replacement (steel)	101%.	148%
2.      Garage Door Replacement	89%	110%
3.      Deck Addition (wood)	89%	112.2%
4.      Attic Bedroom	88%	94.2%
5.      Window Replacement (wood)	84%	92%
6.      Minor Kitchen Remodel	83%	107.2%
7.      Basement Remodel	83%	97%
8.      Window Replacement (vinyl)	81%	92.8%
9.      Siding Replacement (vinyl)	80%	109.5%
10.  Bathroom Remodel	77%	100%

You may not even notice your front door anymore, but a new door makes a great impression on buyers and yields the highest return on your investment. If your front door doesn't need replacing or you'd rather spend less money, you can paint it and replace the hardware for a similar impact. The same goes for your garage door, there is nothing like a fresh coat of paint to improve the unique features of your home.

Buyers are looking to expand their living space, and going out back where there is a new deck is a great solution, especially here in Savannah. If you already have a deck, you might consider enhancing the outdoor living space with a water feature, an outdoor fireplace, or a built in grill. That are lots of sites on the internet that can offer some economical ideas to create affordable outdoor living space. House logic is a website we like that offers some great home improvement ideas. Here are some ideas for decks http://www.houselogic.com/outdoors/decks/. Another way to add living space is going up and turning your attic into a bonus room.

Improving the living space you already have is another upgrade you might consider. A minor remodeling of your kitchen such as, new lighting, new cabinet doors with new hardware and adding a tiled backsplash will bring a fresh look to the area. Also new lighting can really transform a room. A little bigger investment is to replace windows, but as you can see the return here is really pretty good. Check out This Old House website that has loads of low cost kitchen/bath upgrades: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20210747,00.html

If you are considering doing most of your improvements or repairs yourself here are a few websites we have come across that we like. Many of them have videos that show you how to.

The Family Handyman - http://www.familyhandyman.com/

This Old House - http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh

Today’s Homeowner with Danny Lipford - http://www.todayshomeowner.com/

BrightNest - https://brightnest.com/

Homeowners Relieved After Senate Delays Insurance Hikes

Yesterday the Senate passed a bill to sharply delay the increases in flood insurance rates for millions of property owners in coastal and flood-prone areas. The bill effectively guts a 2012 law (“Responsible Implementation of Flood Insurance Reform Act”) that had aimed to overhaul the nearly bankrupt National Flood Insurance Program. The Program which subsidizes insurance for buildings in flood zones, had a $24 billion deficit following claims from Hurricane Sandy. The law’s aim was to raise revenues for the federal flood insurance program. The law had also required updating of federal flood zones, which could determine which property owners will be required to purchase flood insurance by their mortgage holders.

Although the bill delaying the rate increases had bi-partisan support it still drew criticism from a broad spectrum of outside groups.  “It will return the program to a state of insolvency,” and “General taxpayers will be footing the rest of the cost.” according to an article written in the New York Times that quoted Shai Akabas an analyst at the Bipartisan Policy Center, a Washington research group. The aim of the 2012 law was to shift the financial risk of insuring flood-prone properties to the private market from taxpayers. The debate over who will pay for the nation’s rapidly rising costs for flood damage remains unclear.

Over the past year, millions of coastal property owners were hit with flood insurance rate increases that sent their premiums soaring up to five or 10 times the previous amounts. As their insurance bills soared and their property values plummeted, homeowners begged lawmakers to block or delay the 2012 law. 

Most Tybee properties are located in the highest risk flood areas, known as V zone. With few exceptions, Tybee non-primary residences with a first floor not built off the ground would have seen a significant increase. Many other parts of Chatham County are also located in high flood risk zones, and many homes built before the creation of the National Flood Insurance Program have long been eligible for subsidized policies.

Savannah morning news reported: Russ Pennington, director of policy and public affairs with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, said Tuesday the impact hasn’t been drastic so far.

“What we’ve seen in other parts of the state that have preceded Effingham area specifically, it seems to be a wash,” he said. “Some areas are found to no longer be in the flood zone; some new areas are found to be in the flood zone. That’s just a process that is working itself out.”

Find out more from FloodSmart.gov the official site of the National Flood Insurance Program.

End of the Year Closet Organizing

Clutter – that’s what I have more of as the year draws to a close. I realize I have collected more stuff this year, and it looks like our house is busting at the seams with it. With a few days off during the holidays it’s time to once again organize. In case any of you out there are in the same boat I am going to share some of my tips, and organizational tools.

The best, and often the hardest tip in getting organized is that a purge is required. No matter how many shelves, boxes and clever little nooks I create, the best technique is to simply get rid of some things!  If I have received some great new sweaters for Christmas then I take out the ones at the bottom of the shelf that I haven’t worn in a long while, and donate tehm to my favorite charity. Some people have hard and fast rules for this – not worn in a year? Out it goes. For me, I know what I am really not going to wear again and what I probably will, even if I didn’t this past year.

Ok so once I have purged I organize. I think about what organizational techniques I incorporated last year that worked, and what hasn’t. Some people like to put their belts on a hanger, I prefer a few hooks inside the closet wall. Different things work for different people, incorporate what is easiest for you. Here are a few ideas:

• Use shelf dividers to maximize the space and keep sweaters neat.
• Shoes belong on a shoe rack.
• Hang belts, umbrellas and purses on attractive belt racks and stagger them on the wall.
•  Move off season items to under-the-bed storage boxes or the highest closet shelves.
•  Keep infrequently worn items towards the back of your closet, with frequently worn items near the front.
•  Place smaller items that float around on your dresser in a decorative box.
•  Create storage space under the bed.
•   An ottoman with storage is a great place for seasonal blankets.
•   Use boxes with labels or baskets to store similar items.

Best tip of all: tackle only one closet at a time! 

Time For Your Home Inspection

So you’re on your way to buying a new home. You've reached a written purchase agreement with the home seller, so what is next? Your purchase agreement is most likely contingent on a home inspection, which is for your own protection. The purpose of the home inspection is to identify items of concern and safety issues. It is also to give buyers and sellers a better understanding of the home’s condition. An inspection will run about $400.00, however if it turns up an issue you may want to start another round of negotiations for the home. Or perhaps it changes your mind about the property, either way it could be the best $400.00 you ever spend.

The inspection will be performed by a trained professional. If you do not have one in mind your real estate agent will be able to recommend one for you. An inspector will look for issues in the home that may not have been visible when you viewed the home.  The general home inspection is based on the observations made on the date of the inspection, and not a prediction of future conditions. The home inspection will not reveal every issue that exists or ever could exist, but only those material defects observed on the date of the inspection.

An inspection includes:

1.  A thorough visual inspection of the structure inside and out, from foundation, crawl space, to roof.
   
2.  An examination of all major systems both mechanical and electrical. Everything from garage doors to fuse boxes.
3.  Evaluation of hundreds of components.
4. A printed report explaining all significant findings and recommendations.

The home inspection can take 2 to 3 hours. You are not required to be there, but you can if chose to do so. It may be to your advantage to be there so you can ask questions as the inspector reviews any issues they might find. It can also be educational to find out how the inspector determines what to look for. Once you have this knowledge as a home owner you will be able to identify any issues that may develop after you own the home. Do not be alarmed if the inspector finds some issues. No home is in perfect condition. If you are there with the inspector you can ask how serious an issue may be.

Below are some of the components a home inspection includes:

•   Roof
•   Gutters
•  Windows
  
•  Doors
•  Siding
• Trim
•  Grading
•  Driveway & Walkways
•  Decks & Patios
• Fireplaces Ceilings & Walls
• All Plumbing Elements
• All Electrical Elements
•  Foundation
• Framing
• Crawlspace
• Attic
• Hot Water Heater
•  HVAC

Twelve Tips to Making a Home Energy Efficient

Making your home more energy efficient can help to reduce high energy bills, improve comfort and help to protect the environment. Here are twelve tips to become more energy efficient and save money.

•  Invest in a cool gadget like a programmable thermostat. Set thermostats at 78°F in the summer and 68°F in the winter. A programmable thermostat can save you about $180 every year in energy costs.
• Install Low-flow shower heads: Simply by installing low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators ($10 to $20 each), you’ll cut your hot water consumption by 25% to 60%. 
• Insulate Your Hot Water Tank: If you have an older tank, and especially if it’s located in an unheated space, wrapping it with an insulating blanket is a cheap and easy way to reduce costs.
• Insulate Exposed Hot-Water Pipes and By insulating your hot water pipes and heater, water will arrive at the faucet 2 to 4 degrees warmer, which means you won’t have to wait as long for it to heat up, thus saving energy, water, and money.
•  Use LED's in your recessed ceiling lights, stairwell lights and inconvenient fixtures. It’s an 80% energy
  
  savings over incandescent bulbs, the LED bulb life is up to 50,000 hours longer than CFL's.

According to Georgia Power, residential heating and cooling systems account for as much as 52 percent of your home’s energy use.  This means a poorly maintained heating and air system can increase your energy bill dramatically.

• Change your air filter regularly.
• At a minimum change the filter every 3 months, but during heavy use months (summer & winter) check your filter every month to see if it is dirty enough to change.
• Have heating and cooling systems professionally serviced once a year to keep them running as efficiently as possible.
•  Seal your heating and cooling ducts. Gaps in joints and at plenums can cause your heating and cooling bills to increase by as much as 30% and can allow air contaminants to enter the home.
• Make sure all air registers or floor vents are clear of furniture so that the air can circulate freely. If your home has radiators, place heat-resistant reflectors between radiators and walls. In the winter, this will help heat the room instead of the wall.
•  Install a properly sized ENERGY STAR qualified ventilation fan in the bathroom to control moisture in the air while you shower or bathe, as well as control mold and mildew growth. Run your fan for 15 minutes after showering.
•   Install insulation in your attic. This is a fairly easy DIY project that will really make a difference in your energy and comfort of your home.

Improving energy efficiency is an important first step for homeowners interested in green remodeling. To find out more on home to becoming a more energy efficient home, and qualify for energy tax rebates go to the Energy Star website.

Add Appeal To Your Home With Shutters

What people remember about homes are the charming details that give it away as a house that was built 50, 60, 70 years ago. Shutters are one of these often overlooked details that help make up that first impression of a home. Well done shutters will add interest and texture to a house.  Cheap shutters, which are so common that many people don’t even question the look, can give a flat, pasted-on appearance; authentic ones can make all the difference.

Shutter Basics

So if you are looking to add some extra curb appeal to your home and you want to add or change shutters to your home what should you look for? Well there are some basics on shutters that you should know when shopping around. For starters the size of the shutter in relation to your window is important. Every shutter on the home doesn't have to be the same size as the others; all that matters is that each shutter properly fits its adjacent window. Each shutter should be exactly one-half the width of the window; this is the first cardinal rule to follow, regardless of how wide the window is. The whole idea is that you must give the believable appearance that they could actually be closed over to protect against sun, storms, or cold; therefore they should always be mounted on the side window trim rather than against the outside edges of it. The length of the shutter needs to be exactly that of its particular window, this is the second cardinal rule. So when shopping for your shutters make sure you know the size of the windows they will be placed adjacent to.

Shutter Styles

So now that you know the size, style is the next decision to be made. There are as many styles as one can imagine, however there are some more popular, main stream styles that may match the style of your home. Here are a few of the more popular styles.

1. The most commonly used shutter style is the Louvered.  Louvered window shutters offer a tasteful signature styling and a timeless accent to homes. Look for well-made versions of wood or a high-quality synthetic material. Not the cheapest on sale at the mega-hardware store. It will cheapen the look of your home. 
2. Raised Panel shutters add that traditional colonial look. With a traditional 2 panel to custom 3 panel shutters, imagine the graceful yet enduring beauty that these exterior shutters can bring to your home. 
3. The Combination shutter which originated in the New Orleans area has a unique combination of both louver and raised panel. It offers the beauty of both styles, and provides a second glance appeal to traditional styles. You can mix and match your styles with a variety of louver and raised panel combinations to make your own unique look.
4. In its simplest form the Board-n-Batten shutters has been rumored to be the first style of shutter invented. The vertical members are referred to as the boards and the horizontal members are referred to as the battens. This classic style is perfect for ranch style homes or homes that want to reflect historical significance and simplicity.
5. Flat Panel shutters are inspired after the Shaker design where clean lines and simplicity define style. These shutters are perfect for Arts & Crafts or Craftsman style homes. 
6. The combination of both Board-n-Batten and Flat Panel shutters, the Framed Board-n-Batten shutters add a unique look. Commonly used on traditional style homes, the Framed Board-n-Batten shutter has been growing in popularity against the traditional louver, raised panel, and board-n-batten shutter style.
7. Rustic, Rough Sawn window shutters can be seen throughout times past. Rough sawn lumber is lumber that is left in a rough, non-finished state. These shutters have a rich, rustic look to them, complete with the gouges and scrapes associated with traditional rough sawn lumber. The grain of the rough sawn shutters is also exaggerated to intensify the traditional rough sawn look. 

Material & Color

To make the best of your curb appeal using shutters make sure to choose a quality material the shutters are made from. There are several different long lasting materials on the market these days.

• Vinyl
• Wood
• Composite Wood
• Premium PVC & aluminum 
• Fiberglass Premium Composite

Color is also an important choice for shutters. Will you want to paint or stain your new shutters? Which one will best represent the look you want to create with your home? Although most people choose a color the beauty of stained-wood shutters is hard to beat.  Choose neutral colors if you want your home to blend in with the surroundings. For a house that stands out, opt for a bold color palette. When making this choice you might want to take into consideration the color of your landscape. Once they are up stand back and take a good look, you've just increased the appeal of your home!

Remodeling Trends Include Open Spaces & Accessibility

A new AIA Home Design Trends survey says showy and large upgrades are out and functionality is in with today’s remodeling home owners. Reflecting the desire to keep homes affordable in the current weak housing market, home layouts have generally been simpler and floor plans more flexible.

“There have been some pretty significant changes over the past six years and housing preferences may have changed permanently,” says Baker. “The day of the grandiose master bath may have passed us by, and the trend of integrating the kitchen into the family space accelerated during the downturn, along with multi-use spaces and informality.” says Kermit Baker, the chief economist for the American Institute of Architects. Here are some highlights of what the survey shows with trends in  remodeling homes.

Special Purpose Rooms

Today's trends in special function rooms are toward simplicity. Optional special function rooms are limited to just a few key uses. One third of homeowners surveyed noted that the home office is the most popular special function room. Two other special function rooms that are popular are mud rooms, and outdoor living areas.  

Green and Sustainable Projects

The survey showed homeowner remodeling has two key pragmatic objectives: energy efficiency, and making homes more accessible for an aging population. More homeowners are upgrading their homes towards becoming greener. Insulation in the attic, HVAC upgrades and sealing air leaks are items that appear to be on the rise when people make home improvements. With home offices on the rise wireless telecommunications and data systems are growing in popularity as energy management systems. Other energy upgrades also include solar panels, geothermal heating and cooling systems, and water reclamation systems however they are not mainstream in most markets.

Accessibility

As homeowners prefer to age in their current home, accessibility has become a growing concern. As a result, in-home accessibility was observed to be increasing in popularity by 58 percent of residential architect respondents. As we plan to stay in our homes longer, remodeling updates include changes like first-floor master bedrooms, ramps/elevators (including adding a shaft for a future elevator), easy-to-use features for handles and faucets, and non-slip floor surfaces. Increasing in popularity are open space layouts in the home with flexible floor plans. Informal space is another lifestyle preference that remains popular.

More Outdoor Lesuiure Time

A 2012 survey showed interest in outdoor living space increasing. People may be spending more time outside, but in a leisurely fashion as there has been an increase in low-maintenance, low-irrigation landscaping. More people are going for lawn alternatives that promotes sustainability and a savings on the water bill. Rainwater catchment systems and gray water reuse are other popular outdoor features. 

Refinish Your Tub & Brighten Up Your Bathroom

I have been looking at my yucky tub for a while now, and have finally decided that's it! I have got to do something. some of the finish has been permanently worn off and so some permanent stains developed there.  I 'm working with a tight budget so I did some DIY research on how to proceed with this project. After some searching I found a few great ideas I have come up with that are worth sharing.

1. Purchase a tub refinishing kit; you’ll find them at hardware stores and home improvement centers from about $30 - $80.00. The Rust-Oleom Tub & Tile refinishing kit has good reviews and is only $30.00

2. There is a bit of extensive tub preparation before applying the the tub enamel. First you will need to remove the drain, and trip lever. You will need pliers, a screwdriver and a bit of muscle.

3. Then clean the tub using an abrasive pad and a cleaning product that contains a bleaching agent. Clean twice, thoroughly rinsing after each cleaning. You can use a razor for some scraping if needed. wipe up the razor scrapings and rinse.

* Tip: If there are some rather big nicks you can fill them with automotive body filler. Let it dry then sand to shape.

4. Next sand using 400-grit wet/dry sandpaper. Rinse, dry with towels, then let dry completely for several more hours. Now your ready to refinish the tub.

5. First however you will want to mask off the area of the tub such as the tile and floor next to the tub that will not be refinished. Use blue masking tape and newspaper for this.

6. Finally apply the tub and tile enamel with a sponge brush and roller.  Cut in using the brush, then place it in a plastic bag to keep it from getting dry as you may need this for a 2nd coat. Then use the roller to apply the enamel to the rest of the tub. Once finished throw the roller away. Apply the enamel rather quickly watching for drips. Do not let the roller dry out, as it is not reusable. Once finished applying the enamel allow the tub to cure for 3 days, make sure to wait at least 48 hrs before removing the tape and paper. FYI, this stuff is pretty toxic, so you’ll need to wear a mask and open up the windows.

Although this project takes some effort and time it is a great money saving DIY project that can change the look of your bathroom from dingy to bright and shiny.

A home is the greatest investment a person can make, to keep that investment safe, every day wear and tear on the home needs to be addressed. As winter slowly comes to a close it is an excellent time for some spring maintenance. As luring as it maybe to skip this type of work it is wise to take care of the little things before they become BIG PROBLEMS.

Here in Savannah our high humidity can create some big home problems. Mildew and mold is an especially prevalent issue with homes here in Savannah. On the interior of your home make sure your home’s humidity is in the proper range. Too much humidity in your home creates a breeding ground for mold, mildew and other home invaders.  Humidity control is also important for controlling indoor allergens and bacteria. A good rule of thumb depending on the season, is to keep your home between 30% and 60% relative humidity. Relative humidity can be measured with a moisture or humidity meter, a small, inexpensive ($10-$50) instrument available at many hardware stores.

In Savannah GA humidity is a constant and really effects the homes here adversely. Before the extreme heat comes now is the time to check for water and mold in your crawl space. The framing and material in the home is a like a sponge, starving for moisture, so as water enters the house it's absorbed by all the building materials. Then when the temperature warms and the humidity increases, it's perfect conditions for mold to grow. If you don't get it taken care of, you could get sick. As humidity builds in your crawl space, it creates an ideal space for mold and rot to grow. Crawl space humidity leads to all of the following problems in your home:

• Rotting & Mold
• Rusted, Corroded Metal
• Odors & Allergens
• Higher Utility Bills

Fortunately, controlling crawl space humidity is easy! Contact a professional and get a crew of crawl space contractors. They can usually install a moisture control system in less than a day.They will usually seal those crawl space vents, and then follow up by installing a crawl space vapor barrier on the walls and floors. A crawlspace dehumidifier is a great finishing touch for drying out the space and helping you to best preserve your home.

Many Savannah homes have original wood flooring, especially homes in the Victorian, Ardsley Park, and Baldwin Park districts. While inspecting your home for damp and moldy areas also check your floors. If you find some flooring that has been damaged with water you can try bleaching the area with oxalic acid. If this does not work than you will need to replace the boards.

For Savannah homeowners these tips are especially helpful on what to do in reducing humidity in your home:

• Vent appliances that produce moisture, such as clothes dryers, stoves, and kerosene heaters to the outside where possible. (Combustion appliances such as stoves and kerosene heaters produce water vapor and will increase the humidity unless vented to the outside.
• Run the bathroom fan or open the window when showering. Use exhaust fans or open windows whenever cooking, running the dishwasher or dishwashing, etc.
• Increase ventilation or air movement by opening doors and/or windows, when practical. Use fans as needed.
• Cover cold surfaces, such as cold water pipes, with insulation.
• Fix plumbing leaks and other water problems as soon as possible. Dry all items completely.
• Scrub mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water, and dry completely.
• Increase air temperature.
• Clean your dehumidifier if you have one
• Use air conditioners and/or de-humidifiers when needed.

Here is a great website I found to learn about how humidity effects our homes here in Savannah.
http://www.lowcountrybasementsystems.com/crawl-space-repair/crawlspace-dehumidifier/humidity.html
Another website to follow up on mold and moisture in your home. http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.html

Buying an Energy Efficient Home

When you are buying a new or previously owned home, you should consider not only the price of the home, but also the operating costs of owning the home. Energy consumption comprises a large portion of home operating costs. Heating and cooling usually comprises 45% of these costs.

Consider looking for a home that was built to Energy Star standards. ENERGY STAR qualified homes are independently verified to be at least 30% more energy-efficient than homes that were built according to the 1993 national Model Energy Code. (ENERGY STAR is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) voluntary program that helps businesses and individuals save money and protect our climate through superior energy efficiency.) Here are some of the differences you will find in an ENERGY STAR qualified home:

·         building envelope upgrades

·         high performance windows

·         controlled air infiltration

·         upgraded heating and air conditioning systems

·         tight duct systems

·         upgraded water-heating equipment

 If the Home is not Energy Star qualified there are still things that you can do to investigate the energy efficiency of a home. Determining the energy efficiency of a home can be difficult, but it is possible. Here are some tips for consideration:

1.      Ask the seller for copies of the monthly utility bills, low utility costs could represent an energy efficient home. However they could also reflect an infrequent use of the heating cooling system.

2.      You could also gather information on the furnace and air conditioner for any house that you may purchase. For air conditioning you will want to know the seasonal energy efficiency rating (SEER) and for gas furnaces you are interested in the Annual Fuel Utilization Ratio (AFUE). The rating for a SEER ranges from 10-17, the higher number using the least amount of energy. The AFUE ratings are more straight forward ranging from 75% to 97%, again the higher number being the most efficient.

3.       Ask your agent or the seller the age of the HVAC. If the equipment is 10-15 years old with a SEER of 8 or less, the time may be approaching to replace the system. Inspect the insulation in the attic. Insulation coverage should be continuous and thick enough to cover all the studs.

4.      Check the water heater to see if it has an ENERGY STAR label.  According to the Buildings Energy Data Book, heating water accounts for 17% of on-site residential energy consumption. The five water heating technologies that are eligible to use the ENERGY STAR label offer energy savings from 7% to 55%, depending on the technology used. 

For more information go to www.energystar.gov.