Energy Savings | The #1 Way to Boost the Value of Your Home

Energy Savings | The #1 Way to Boost the Value of Your Home

In the spring and summer, many homeowners are looking to sell their home. In most areas of the country, it’s a strong seller’s market, and people are able to sell houses quickly and for a great price. Are you considering selling your home anytime soon? If so, you might wonder what kind of projects you can do that will add value and improve your own energy savings and comfort while you live there.  While you can spend an endless amount of money making your home “perfect,” a lot of those improvements won’t give you a good return compared to what you spend. However, there is one improvement that returns you over 107% on the cost. Curious?   Attic Insulation is a Top Value Booster Being able to get back more than you pay for improvement makes it a must-do. The #1 investment that adds value to your home is attic insulation! That may seem awfully mundane. After all, the attic isn’t generally a place someone spends time. Why would you want to put so much money into it? The simple reason is that buyers understand how much it matters in terms of comfort, energy savings, and much more. Take a look at some of the benefits of improving your attic insulation!   Lower Utility Costs Buyers know that utility costs are a significant portion of the expense of keeping up a home. If someone is a first-time home buyer, they may be especially aware of the increased heating and cooling they can expect. Even someone who has owned a home in the past, however, will be interested in energy...
How to Reduce Utility Costs at Home

How to Reduce Utility Costs at Home

Did you know that costs for electric, natural gas, water, and sewer add 25% to monthly housing expenses? That’s a lot of money, and the truth is you don’t have to pay so much.  You can take steps to reduce your utility bills by improving your energy savings in a variety of ways. The more energy you can save, the more you’ll keep your heat and cooling inside your own home (and pay less as a result)!  Here are some tips to reduce your utility costs at home.   Install a Programmable Thermostat Keeping your home comfortable can be a challenge if you manually adjust your temperature. How you set your thermostat can vary depending on how hot or cold it is outside, whether you’re sleeping, spending time at home, or at work, and many other factors. With everything going on in our lives, we usually don’t remember to manage the thermostat as closely as we might wish we did. As a result, we overpay for our comfort and sometimes we’re not actually comfortable (like if we forget to turn the temp down at bedtime)! Skip the trouble and make it easy to gain energy savings by using a programmable thermostat. You can set it up with the temperatures you want at the times you’re home, away, and asleep. You’ll save a lot of money and stay comfortable 24 hours a day.   Lower the Water Heater Temperature Most traditional water heaters hold a significant amount of water and keep it heated to a specific temperature. As you might expect, that costs a lot of money! You can get...
Maximize Your Air Conditioner This Summer

Maximize Your Air Conditioner This Summer

Arkansas in the summer is two things – hot and humid. Fortunately, we have air conditioning units that can keep us cool and comfortable no matter how bad things are outside. Today’s air conditioning is an incredible boon, especially considering that just 50 years ago we were stuck with window units that barely cooled a single room. Having central air conditioning in an Arkansas summer is incredible, but only if you maximize your energy savings and efficiency. After all, as your parents used to yell, “We’re not here to air condition the neighborhood!”   Clean Around Your Outdoor Unit If you want to see significant energy savings, you need to make sure the are around your air conditioner unit outside is clear of debris and buildup. It’s common during the poor weather of winter for leaves, sticks, dirt, and other debris to get stuck in the screens and makes it hard for the unit to work efficiently. By taking a bit of time to remove these problems, you can optimize your air conditioner all summer.   Get Your Annual Air Conditioner Tune Up No amount of self-cleaning takes the place of a professional cleaning and tune up. It’s best to schedule this before the heat really hits, so take the time to call your technician now. The professional can let you know how your unit’s overall performance looks, and the annual care will help extend the life of your air conditioner. You’ll save energy with a well-operating air conditioner, and you’ll also make sure that there is no damage or wear that is keeping your home cooling from operating...
How New Windows Can Impact Your Home Insulation

How New Windows Can Impact Your Home Insulation

When you think about keeping your home warmer, you probably think about insulating the attic or the basement. There’s certainly nothing wrong with that!   However, don’t overlook the “eyes” of your home – the windows. Low-quality windows can allow significant air transfer, which can cause you to spend more on heating and cooling while also struggling to stay comfortable.   What impact can new windows make on your home insulation? Find out now!   Windows Have Changed Technology has impacted every aspect of life, and windows are no exception. Today you can get vinyl-framed windows that give you the low-maintenance of aluminum without the poor insulation of the metal material.   New windows can also offer tilt-in sashes, allowing you to clean both the inside and outside without getting out a ladder.   Less maintenance and better cleaning – that’s a win-win without even mentioning home insulation.   Double and Triple Panes Offer Incredible Insulation Do you remember being able to put your hand on a window to gauge the outside temperature? If you can still do this in your home today, it’s time to get replacement windows!   As technology improves, windows are starting to get close to offering the same home insulation benefits as exterior walls. If insulation and energy savings are your primary motivation, be sure to talk to us about which windows best fit your needs.   The added insulation has another benefit – it helps block noise. A warmer, quieter way to look out of your home – you can’t beat that.   The Right Windows Improve the Value of Your Home Like...
4 Ways to Increase Energy Savings This Winter

4 Ways to Increase Energy Savings This Winter

While Little Rock doesn’t have the kind of winter weather seen further north, it can still get cold and uncomfortable. Having the right kind of heating and insulation is vital to staying comfortable.   However, keeping the heat going at the level you need can be expensive and use a lot of energy. Fortunately, there are a lot of steps you can take to find additional energy savings.   Here are four ways to save!   Take Advantage of the Sun Little Rock gets an average of 217 sunny days per year, which is higher than the national average. This means that even in the winter you can take advantage of the sun to warm your home.   Open curtains on south-facing windows during the day and allow the sun to help keep your furnace from running so often. When the sun goes down, close your shades to hold in the heat as long as possible.   When you use the sun in conjunction with your normal heating system and insulation, you’ll have energy savings that will keep your more comfortable at home and in your wallet.   Get Your Insulation Checked All the heat in the world won’t keep you cozy if your insulation is poor. All that heat is simply escaping through your walls, causing you to pay more while being chilly in your own home!   If you’re tired of paying too much while drafts invade your house, have an insulation specialist check your home’s walls, attic, and crawlspace. You may be surprised to find that with a small investment in improved insulation, you could save...
Improve the Energy Savings & Comfort of an Older Home

Improve the Energy Savings & Comfort of an Older Home

There are so many great things about owning an older home. From unique design to charm and character, an older home can get you a great living experience at a lower-than-expected price.   Of course, there are some drawbacks. One of these is that the home isn’t updated with the latest insulation, windows, and other elements that help reduce energy costs. Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do to improve the situation.   The first step is to make sure your home isn’t registered as a landmark or historic property. If it is, there will be limits to what you can do – be sure to follow the rules.   Here’s what you can do to improve the energy savings and comfort of your older home!   Fill the Gaps One of the biggest energy thieves in an older home is gaps between walls and windows, as well as in the floor, roof, and attic.   Simply using sealant strips can help fill the gaps in your floorboards without changing the character of your room. They’re inexpensive and easy to use. Once they are in place you won’t even be able to see them – but you’ll feel the difference in temperature and you’ll also see the energy savings.   For gaps around windows, you can use caulking or weather stripping. If you can’t replace old windows – or can’t afford to – try using a window kit where you put a plastic seal over windows. It can increase a window’s R-value up to 90%!   Get an HVAC Tune-Up Even if your older home’s HVAC is functioning fine,...