5 Ways to a Cheaper, Greener Home Before Signing the Dotted Line
Despite what the market keeps telling us, many people are still in the market for a new home. They may not be dabbling in the same price-points they were a couple of years ago, but they've managed to save up enough cash to take the plunge, and move into a decent spread. Are you one of these folks? Then you may want to consider a few things before closing the deal.
Most people take a retro-active approach to cheaper, more sustainable living. What does that mean? It means they look for ways to save money and create a greener, more energy-efficient home only after they've already moved in. I'm here to tell you there's another way to go about the process of home-buying.
Here are 6 passive strategies to a cheaper, greener home before giving up your John Hancock.
1. Orientation: A great way to save on the long-term energy costs of owning a home has to do with the direction its facing in relation to the sun. Controlling the amount of sunlight entering your home is a great way to naturally control the temperature inside.
When looking in colder climates like the Northeast or Pacific Northwest, you'll want to find a home where most of the facade faces South, allowing more sunlight to enter, therefore retaining more heat, and maintaining a warmer temperature.
If you live in warmer climates, like the Southeast or Southwest, you'll want a home that faces north, thereby keeping direct sunlight out and allowing the home to stay cool during the warmer weather, reducing the need for air-conditioning.
This strategy is effortless and requires less than 5 minutes to implement. Applying it could save you hundreds, and even thousands of dollars on energy costs a year.
2. Access to public transportation: The growth of American cities is a direct result of the Industrial Revolution that took place during the last-century. One of the most recognizable by-products of that revolution is the motor vehicle. The car also happens to be one of the biggest sources of energy consumption on the planet.
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