Eco-friendly home upgrades elevate your home’s worth and contribute to a greener environment. Discover how to transform your home into an eco-friendly haven.
Article Summary:
Enhancing your home with eco-friendly improvements not only increases its value but also contributes to a more environmentally conscious lifestyle. Among the top choices for these upgrades, solar power emerges as the ideal solution for breaking free from conventional energy sources and improving overall energy efficiency. The geyser, a significant electricity consumer, offers several eco-friendly options to explore. Additionally, insulation helps you save on heating expenses in winter and cooling costs in summer. Eco-friendliness is a hallmark of modern homes, especially sought after by younger homebuyers, alongside high-speed internet connectivity.
Investing in eco-conscious home upgrades not only benefits the environment but also enhances your home’s value.
Eco-Friendly Home Improvements: Where to Invest?
Solar Power
Solar power is a logical choice in regions with ample sunlight, aiding in your quest to reduce dependence on the grid and counteract issues like Eskom load shedding.
For an accurate assessment of your property’s suitability for solar power installation, consider consulting with a professional. Factors such as roof type and sun exposure play pivotal roles.
The initial investment in solar power installation proves worthwhile due to the long-term energy savings it offers.
Geyser
The geyser ranks as the primary electricity consumer in most households.
Eco-friendly options for your geyser include:
Insulation: Implement measures to prevent heat loss, including installing a geyser blanket and other basic methods.
Solar-Powered Geyser: While a more costly option, it yields substantial long-term savings. However, assess your home’s suitability for solar power before considering this investment. Solar geyser prices typically range around R15,000, with installation costs typically falling between R2,000 and R6,000.
Heat Pump: Operating primarily on heat absorbed from the air, heat pumps use less electricity, heating the same amount of water as a traditional geyser but with only a third of the energy consumption. They are pricier than solar-powered geysers, with costs hovering around R25,000, but do not rely on sunlight availability.
Insulation
Evaluate the energy required to maintain your home’s comfort during winter and summer.
Although new homes are generally required to have insulation, retrofitting your existing home with improved insulation remains a viable option.
Various insulation products can be installed in key areas such as the roof (where most heat transfer occurs), walls, and floors. Seek recommendations from friends or conduct online research to find reputable insulation installation companies. Don’t forget to read reviews to gauge the company’s reliability.
Water Efficiency
In addition to optimizing geyser efficiency, consider implementing sustainable water improvements, including recycling water.
Rainwater tanks stand out as a go-to sustainable water system. Typically used for garden irrigation, you can install a rain runner to filter and transfer water into a secondary tank for primary use.
An effective water recycling system may require an investment of around R32,000.
Flooring
Bamboo flooring is gaining popularity as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional hardwood. Bamboo, a fast-regenerating grass, outpaces hardwood trees in growth rate.
Moreover, bamboo flooring proves more cost-effective and easier to maintain.
Investing in an Eco-Friendly Home
If you plan to purchase a home that aligns with your eco-friendly requirements, consider getting prequalified to determine your affordability.
With a prequalification certificate in hand, you can confidently search for homes within your budget, showcasing your financial readiness to sellers.
To get prequalified, reach out to an expert at O-Yes Home Loans or take advantage of our free online prequalification tool, the Bond Indicator.
