If you’re looking for a new house to buy, you’re probably thinking about the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, how much storage space is available, taxes, and the cost of your rent or mortgage. But what about the cost of your future energy bills?
The annual energy bill for a typical single family home is around $2,000. This means that it is important to factor in the energy-efficiency aspects as you prepare to move to your new home. The following are some of the most important points that you need to keep in mind before you move.
The Energy-Efficiency of the Appliances
Appliances make up a significant portion of your electricity bill. If the house in your new home is full of old appliances, you can easily expect your energy bills to skyrocket. Likewise, you will also need to spend money to replace them in the near future, otherwise, they will eat up more energy than needed.
Some of the most common appliances to keep in mind are:
- Refrigerator
- HVAC system
- Washing machine
- Cooker/oven
- Air-conditioner
The Windows
No matter how beautiful a window may be, if it is letting a draft into your home, it is not energy efficient. Old or inefficient windows can let cold air leak through in winter and conditioned air escape in summer.
Windows are one of the most important elements of an energy-efficient home. They are involved in heating, cooling, lighting, and even ventilation. Together, they account for about two-fifths of your home’s energy use.
When you go looking for a new home, look for double-paned windows with “low-e” coatings. Also, check for weatherstripping. This helps to seal in your home’s climate, and thus put less pressure on the HVAC system and its energy use.
Proper Insulation
Properly installed insulation in walls, floors, and attics helps to keep your home comfortable in any season. Although there are different types of insulation available in U.S. homes, they need to be properly installed and maintained in order to work properly and stop energy from being wasted in your home.
It isn’t easy to find out which insulation has been used in a home or how long ago it was installed unless the current owner is very honest about it. One way to go about this is to hire a professional to inspect the insulation of the home before you make your purchase.
At first, this may seem like an extra expense. However, if you purchase a home with poor insulation, you will soon have to spend money replacing it anyway.
Learn More About Energy-Efficiency with A Mass Save® No-Cost Energy Assessment
All you need to get started is to contact us for your no-cost virtual home energy assessment.
As a proud partner of the Mass Save® program, we are able to deliver a huge range of no-cost incentives that will increase your energy savings and reduce your bills.
As residents of Massachusetts ourselves, we are delighted to be able to use our expertise to help as many people as possible run a more energy-efficient business.
Call (781) 309-7540 or contact us to get started with a no-cost Mass Save® home energy assessment.