How to Add Home Equity Through HVAC Upgrades

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Article Found on HVAC.com | Written by Ali Dunlap

According to Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies, Americans are spending increasingly large amounts of money on residential remodeling projects each year and seeing less and less of a return. From 2017 to 2018, the money spent on home remodels nationwide increased by 7.5%, totaling nearly $340 billion. Yet, the average ROI for these projects was only 56% — a decrease of 12% in just one year, as stated in a survey by Remodeling Magazine. 

When you’re planning a renovation project in preparation to sell your home, the key to maximizing ROI and avoiding costly renovation mistakes is knowing which upgrades will add the most value. HVAC upgrades will always be a safe bet and a smart investment — and yet, these home improvements are some of the most commonly overlooked by homeowners and flippers. 

In today’s market, it’s riskier than ever to make the wrong renovations. You could end up spending thousands of dollars on kitchen and bathroom upgrades that never pay themselves off. Below, you’ll find an explanation of why HVAC upgrades are your best bet, backed by a list of upgrades that will almost always pay off and help you sell your home faster. 

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Principles of Heating and Cooling

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Article Found on Energy.gov

Understanding how heat is transferred from the outdoors into your home and from your home to your body is important for understanding the challenge of keeping your house cool. Understanding the processes that help keep your body cool is important in understanding cooling strategies for your home. Read more

8 Ways To Reduce Energy Use At Home

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Article Found on Improvenet

Each month, homeowners receive energy bills they wish were just little lower. Some  customers are surprised to see that despite efforts to become a more energy-efficient home, bills are still high. Often, this can happen in the summer or winter when HVAC systems are being used the most to keep your home at a comfortable temperature.

If you want to lower your home energy bills, you’ve come to the right place. Here are a few ways you can reduce your energy usage at home to save money long term. Read more

Mythbusters: Old Homes Can’t Be Made Energy Efficient

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Article Found on Mitsubishi Blog

Myth: Old Homes Can’t Be Made Energy Efficient

The Truth:

Old homes are often known for their charm, character or historical influence. One thing they aren’t known for? Being energy efficient. That’s because we didn’t have the same knowledge of building science. We didn’t understand how tight building envelopes positively impact energy efficiency and utility savings as we do today. And frankly, we didn’t have the same level of interest in energy efficiency, either. In recent decades, energy costs have increased significantly due to greater stress on the grid, the global population boom and growing concern for environment. Read more

11 Innovations Shaping the Future of HVAC

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Article Found on BuilderOnline

With the rise of smart home technology adoption, home buyers increasingly expect new homes to be equipped with the latest technological advances, and the HVAC system is no exception. The entire HVAC industry is undergoing a technological revolution to keep up with the demand of home buyers and builders.

These new solutions help with efficiency, cut costs, and improve client satisfaction. Many of these technologies are still on the drawing board, but there are some you can take advantage of now to boost your homes’ comfort levels. Read more

The Biggest Reason Your Heating Bill Is Too High

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Article Found on HVAC.com

Winter is coming. With temperatures outside dropping, many homes will start to see their heating bills increase. Learn what factors can cause your bill to go up and what you can do to lower it while still keeping your home warm. Read more

THE BATTLE OF THE HOME ENERGY SOURCES: GAS VS. ELECTRIC

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Article Found on BuilderOnline, written by Lydia Lee

Troon Pacific, a San Francisco–based developer of high-end residences, just put its latest project on the market: a $45 million, 9,500-square-foot house in the city’s Russian Hill neighborhood. The kitchen of this LEED Platinum-certified home has not one, but two cooktops: a 36-inch Gaggenau gas cooktop and a 15-inch Gaggenau electric induction cooktop. “Induction is the most sought after by chefs, because the heat can be so well controlled,” says Greg Malin, CEO of Troon Pacific. “But the market in the U.S. hasn’t quite broken out yet, so we have both, to let people choose how they want to cook and expand in the directions they want to. Read more

Savings DIY Project: How to Seal Air Leaks with Caulk

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Article Found on Energy.gov

Air leaks can waste a lot of your energy dollars. Whether leaks are letting hot air inside during the warmer months or letting in drafts during the cooler season, one of the quickest energy- and money-saving tasks you can do is caulk, seal and weather strip all cracks and large openings to the outside. Air takes the path of least resistance, so you should aim to seal the big holes first. We’ve laid out some simple instructions for sealing most of these air leakage pathways — but if you’re sealing heating and cooling ducts, we suggest contacting contractor that’s familiar with the different air sealing methods often best done with ductwork.

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How Your Home’s Foundation Affects Heating and Cooling Costs

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Article Found on Modernize

When most of us talk energy efficiency, we’re thinking about the things inside the home: the washer and dryer that could stand to use a little less energy, or the heating unit that’s been hanging around since the 90s. And these projects certainly make a difference—for instance, a higher rated HVAC system can save homeowners over $115 a year on their annual heating and cooling costs.

But the truth is that your home’s structure plays a big part in your energy use, as well. Read more

HOME ZONING: THE CURE FOR THE COMMON (AND UNCOMFORTABLE) HOME

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Article Found on MitsubishiComfort

What if an electrician came to your home and rewired your house so that all of the lights were turned off and on at the same time using a single switch? Most homeowners would show that electrician the door. However we still use that same impractical and inefficient concept for cooling and heating our homes. A single thermostat controls the temperature for the entire house, leaving some rooms cold, some rooms hot and some rooms in a constant state of flux. Read more