Guest Blogger #426, Entry #1041, March 25, 2012
Is this the Next Green Revolution?
If you’ve got home improvements in mind, you’d probably like to recoup some of their cost at a later date. If you also care about the environment, you’ll want to keep those upgrades green. Don’t worry. You can do both and still come out a winner. Those valuable improvements needn’t break the bank.
Better yet, according to a survey by the National Association of Realtors, over 70 percent of their cost can be recouped when you sell. Here’s how.
Image via: Houzz
Add an Attic Bedroom
If you’ve got an attic, you can have an extra bedroom, and you can do it responsibly by using drywall composed of post-industrial recycled materials. At decorating time, remember that you can buy zero-VOC interior paint everywhere nowadays. Potential cost recouped on an attic bedroom addition: 72.5 percent.
Replace that Beat-Up Siding
By putting new siding on your home, you will not only improve its curb appeal. You’ll also add as much as 78 percent of the job’s cost to its resale value.
It’s important to choose a quality siding, though, and if you want to keep it green, consider fiber cement. This popular new material, manufactured from cement and wood fibers, is durable, affordable and environmentally responsible.
A Door to be Proud Of
Replacement of the entry door will add to your home’s appearance, and a full 73 percent of its cost can be recouped, as well. Don’t replace with wood, though. The superior strength of a steel door will provide your home with a greater degree of protection.
Image via: Houzz
Don’t Forget the Garage
The addition of a new steel garage door will not only add to your home’s curb appeal. It will also help to protect the bicycles, tools and sundry items that most people store in their garages. It’s hard for a thief to kick in a steel door, and the potential payback in this case figures at 71 percent of the cost.
New Windows for Energy Savings
When climate-controlled indoor air decides to make a break for it, drafty windows usually serve as the escape route of choice. To reduce your carbon footprint, consider replacing those worn-out windows. It’s green to save on energy, and a full 69.1 percent of this upgrade can be recouped, as well.
Image via: Casaresidence
Any of these upgrades will increase the resale value of your home, and the construction materials available today make it easy to improve and still be green.
It is a guest blog post by M. Fortie. She is a renewable power pro and writer. She blogs for the Residentialsolarpanels.org solar panels systems blog. If you want to learn how to calculate the cost of solar hot water system, become a Facebook fan.
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Opal Enterprises says
As an exterior remodeling professional, I always enjoy seeing blog posts that refer to the benefits of home improvement projects. Whether it’s a contractor or DIY project, a homeowner can really get those big payoffs in energy, curb appeal, and resale value if they invest in siding, windows, or doors. Great points made!