Green Renovation Tips

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10 Tips For Green Renovating by Rebecca Brooks

After price and location, surveys are now finding that energy efficient features are the next most important features to buyers. Even if you are not selling in the near future, improving your home's "green" ranking can save you money on energy costs and help save the planet.

There are many things you can do to increase your home's environmental friendliness. Some have small price tags and some are larger renos. Here are 5 small and 5 large projects to make your home more green.

Small Projects

1. Replace your thermostat with a programmable one. Preferably get one that has settings for the week and weekend -- known as 5-2 or 5-1-1 programs.
2. Replace old light bulbs with energy-saving bulbs. They come in a variety of sizes and styles for most applications.
3. Paint with low-VOC or no-VOC paints. Volatile Organic Compounds can be released into your home for years after painting. Eco-friendly products improves the air quality for everyone living in the home.
4. Get low flow taps or faucet aerators for your fixtures to reduce the water going down the drain.
5. Caulk and weather seal around doors and windows to reduce drafts. You can get specialty gaskets to install behind electrical outlet covers also.

Large Projects

1. If you are upgrading systems, go with Energy Star rated products. Appliances, heating and cooling systems, hot water tanks, windows, and more can be found that reduce energy loss and save you money.
2. Upgrade your heating and cooling using geothermal, solar, or wind power to run your system.
3. Replace toilets with dual flush or low-flow toilets (6L). These can save tens of thousands of litres of water per year per toilet.
4. Increase your insulation in areas like your attic, crawlspace, and basement.
5. Increase the insulation in your exterior walls. This is a major source of energy loss in older homes.

In Canada, you can get a pre-retrofit evaluation for your home from certain companies in order to qualify for the federal ecoENERGY grant. You will be provided with a report with recommendations for improving your home's energy rating. After performing the retrofits, you can get a post-retrofit evaluation, which will then determine what sort of rebate you are able to receive, up to $5,000. Most provinces are also offering other rebates or grants.

Rebecca Brooks is a founder of HotSpot Property, a property marketing company in Winnipeg, Manitoba. This article is adapted from her recent book, "Shakespeare for Sellers: A Complete Home Selling Manual." More selling, buying and marketing information can be found on the company website at http://www.hotspotproperty.ca

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