Tips for Buying a More Energy Efficient Home

According to Freddie Mac, a typical U.S. family spends over $2,200 per year on energy  bills. As a homeowner, it’s important to keep your home running efficiently, not only to  save money, but also to help the environment thrive. But what about when you’re  thinking about buying a new (or maybe your first) home? How do you know what to  look for? This is a question I get asked often by clients. The perfect time to assess the  energy efficiency (or lack thereof), is during the home tour with your Realtor. 

Here in West Chester, we have a beautiful downtown with many historic homes. While  these older homes are charming and highly desirable, generally speaking, older homes  are drafty, have less insulation, and (some) have very old heating systems. Whether or  

not your search has lead you to towards historic homes or new builds, the tips below  will help you determine the energy pitfalls or potentials in your new home. 

The first thing I suggest is to have your Realtor call PECO (assuming PECO is the  home’s energy provider.) A little known tip is that PECO will provide the average  monthly bill for any residential property they service (average of the last 12 months  usage.) This average gives a you, as the potential future homeowner, a baseline to work  with. A high average bill indicates you likely have to consider the following tips to  improve the energy efficiency of your potential new home. 

1- Seal The Leaks 

 Keep your eye out for areas that may need caulking such as windows, doors,  chimneys and even recessed lighting. Use your hand to feel around these areas for 

drafts. Sealing all the leaky airways in the home is equivalent to closing a 3ft by 3ft  window! This simple act can save you up to 20% on your heating and cooling bills. 

2- Smart Heating and Cooling  

How old is the HVAC system? Ask your agent to give you a copy of the Seller Property  Disclosure Statement which will list the ages of the heater and major systems in the  home. On average, half of your energy usage is spent heating and cooling your home.  If your HVAC is old, it can make sense to invest in an energy efficient electric heating  and cooling source from the start. Then, you can save over the time you live in the  home, and enjoy living with greater comfort! The good news is that replacing an old  HVAC increases the value of your home. Another tip is to install a programable  thermostat. Just a couple of degrees change to heating/cooling while you’re sleeping  or at work can save a ton of energy and money over time.  

3- Insulate 

One you’ve upgraded the HVAC and sealed those leaky areas, you’ll want to keep as  much of the heat or cooling in your house as possible. Make sure to take a look in the  attic while you’re touring the home. If there isn’t about 10-14” of blown-in insulation in  the attic, you’ll want to budget to add more. Increasing the amount of insulation you  have in your attic will keep the home comfortable and more energy efficient.  

4- Light Bulbs 

Whether the potential home you tour is old or new, one thing to take notice of is the  light bulbs. A simple and easy change is to switch out all the standard light bulbs for  LEDs. LEDs use 90% LESS electricity than incandescent bulbs and last at least 25  times as long. 

These simple steps I’ve outlined above will help you be much more informed before  you buy. One you’ve decided on your home and settle in, make a few of these key  upgrades. You’ll save on your utility bills and improve the energy efficiency of your  home. And, when you’re ready to sell your house, these features will make it even more  attractive to potential buyers! 

Alison Maguire, Realtor 

The Moore Maguire Real Estate Team 

Keller Williams Realty 

Alison@mooremaguiregroup.com 

610-306-1109 Direct 

610-436-6500 Main Office 

@mooremaguireteam