The most common projects these days are smaller scale jobs that maintain a home's value and boost it's energy efficiency. Energy guzzlers like restaurant size appliances and 70 inch soaking tubs are giving way to less sexy eco-friendly upgrades. Practical long term improvements wins out over tacking on square footage with imposing entry halls and drafty great rooms that no longer adds instant value. Square footage is gone and energy performance is here for home improvements today.
The average american home is estimated to spend about 2000 dollars annually on energy.A few key green upgrades will save enough energy to pay for themselves within 5 years. A good way to start is to pay a few hundred dollars on an energy audit to assess how best to save on electricity, water and heating fuel. 5 figure upgrades like solar panels and geothermal heat is more affordable thanks to a 30 percent tax credit offered as part of President Obamas stimilus package plus many utilities and state governments are pumping up rebates as well.
Out is the big family/media rooms, in is the flex kitchen-intimate and functional. Out is the spare room, in is the boomerang room. Out is the big soaking tubs, in is the green shower. Summer months is the months that are best to plan these types of projects. Don't you agree that functional and intimate is better than cold and drafty? Of course you do. As they say in Hollywood, "that's a wrap."
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment