Invest in an Eco Friendly Home: You’ll Save Money and the Earth

Investing in an eco friendly home not only helps the earth but also increases the resale value of your home. In addition, you can lower or eliminate your electric bill. The rising cost of electricity demands that we look to alternative sources. Let’s examine some ways you can financially benefit by making these changes.

Capture the Sun

Solar panels have been used for decades. The cost to purchase and install solar panels steadily decreases as they become more common and technology improves. Local, state, and federal agencies offer incentives for installing solar panels.

In addition, you can apply for grants from environmental agencies to help offset the costs. Finally, solar panel companies are partnering with banks to provide low-interest financing. Taking advantage of these benefits can make the move to solar a more affordable eco friendly home upgrade.

Recent studies confirm that home buyers want solar energy in place. They are willing to pay an additional $15,000 for a home with solar panels.

Reuse the Water in Your Eco Friendly House

Greywater filtration systems are an excellent way to maintain your home’s landscape, especially in drought-affected areas. These systems capture water from your laundry, sinks, and shower. The filtered water is used in your home irrigation system to water grass, plants, and other landscaping.

A four-bedroom home consumes 160 gallons of water a day, on average. You can water over 1,100 square feet of your lawn. Not only are you saving significantly on your water bill, but your community also benefits.

Water treatment plants do not need to clean and distribute that water. Filtration systems typically cost less than $5,000, and more complex systems may cost four times as much.

There may be additional costs to update plumbing inside the home or add an irrigation system if you do not have one in place. A home equity line of credit or personal loan may be just the resource to help spread out the payments.

Landscape the Yard of Your Eco Friendly Home

Manage stormwater runoff and heat island effect by looking at the landscape of your yard. Re-grade your yard to include swales to help stormwater flow away from your home's foundation.

In addition to the cost of grading, you may need to have topsoil brought in for the yard. Costs vary widely based on the amount of work to be done. Consider using a personal credit card or line of credit to help pay for these eco friendly home enhancements.

Drive Green

You may already have an electric vehicle, or your future home buyer may own one. When investigating the cost of purchasing and installing solar panels, include a battery backup and EV charging station. These allow you to charge your EV in a few hours or overnight. The stations themselves cost less than $1,000.

When the electrician is updating your home’s electrical panel, they can make these modifications, allowing you to bundle the cost into the financing of your solar panels.

Final Thoughts

Deciding to protect the environment can also have financial benefits. Take the time now to make changes to improve your environmental and financial footprint.

So, what are you waiting for? Invest in an eco friendly home today! You’ll be doing your part to save the planet, and your wallet will thank you too.

Have you made the switch to an eco friendly home? If not, what is stopping you?