Choosing an Energy Efficient Home

Everything in life is getting more and more expensive, including utility costs like gas and electricity. It can lead to a lot of uncertainty when house hunting as it can be hard to gauge or budget utility bills in a house you don’t currently own. With costs only expected to continue rising, here are some tips for choosing a home that will be as energy efficient as possible. 

Ask Neighbors 

When house hunting, don’t be afraid to attend open houses in search of specific information. Go ahead and check out the heating and A/C system while you’re there and talk to potential neighbors about what they use! Keeping your heating sources consistent with neighbors (versus opting for something new or different) means easier access to repairs and finding fuel providers. 

Check Appliances 

Once you’ve entered into a contract on a home, it’s time to really examine what appliances convey. If appliances like the fridge, stove, washer and dryer, furnace, and water heater are aging then it’s likely that they aren’t totally energy efficient. Technology has increased so rapidly that our appliances are becoming more efficient to operate. Look for the ways furnaces or water heaters are vented and check others for an energy-star rating. 

Multiple Energy Sources

When house hunting, consider homes that have alternative energy sources. This will give you the option to flip to a different, say, heating source if one gets too expensive to use. As shared by Realtor.com: look for a home with multiple energy sources like electric, gas, solar, and even wood stoves. You’ll be able to control how you heat your house at any given time—and likely save a lot of money in the process!