Save Money When You Renovate
(NC)-If you're planning a home renovation, now
is the time to think about making your house more comfortable
and energy efficient - and saving money along the way.
In many homes, upgrading the
roof, the walls and major equipment such as the furnace will
produce the biggest energy and dollar savings. By piggybacking
any energy improvements onto a larger renovation, you get more
out of every dollar you spend. If you miss the opportunity,
you may find yourself ripping out a nearly-new building
component for a future energy upgrade.
Here are some things you can do
to put together an energy-smart renovation project:
If you're replacing your
furnace, consider a high-efficiency model. It's likely that
the additional cost will be covered by the energy you save
over its life span. You might also consider air sealing or
adding attic insulation before you change your furnace. By
amortizing the cost of renovations against the money you'll
save with lower heating bills and the reduced cost of a
smaller furnace, you may find even more savings.
- While you're
renovating the attic, you should also add or replace the
insulation and upgrade or reseal the air-vapour barrier to
control drafts and moisture.
- If you're finishing your basement or
upgrading your rec room, there's no better time to insulate
and seal the outer walls. Before you do, make sure that the
exterior surfaces of the walls are properly watersealed from
the outside, or you risk creating mould problems. It's
always best to speak to a professional first if you're
considering this type of work.