When I decided to sell my house, I wanted to make some energy-efficient renovations that would aid in increasing the home’s value while also lowering my monthly electricity costs.
- The first thing I did was replace all of the single-pane windows with aluminum frames with double-pane windows with vinyl frames, which perform a far better job of insulating the house.
Next I upgraded to a smart thermostat with zone control, which lets me remotely program the thermostat, and allows me to direct the flow of air throughout the home, so that energy is not wasted treating vacant rooms. My favorite improvement, though, was installing radiant heated flooring throughout the house. Radiant heated floors are placed beneath existing flooring, with little to no visual impact on the floors themselves. Radiant heated flooring utilizes a heating element that radiates heat throughout the home, assisting in the management of a stable temperature. Because the flooring distributes heat to keep the home warm, my HVAC system doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain the desired temperature. The upgrade was quick, and the change in the floor is scarcely visible and appears to be the same. Not only are radiant heated floors energy efficient, but the feeling of waking up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom and walking on a heated floor is a treat like no other. If you are looking to make energy efficient (and costly) upgrades to your home, talk to your local HVAC provider to see if radiant heated floors are right for you!