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ENERGY COSTS NOW IN FOCUS SO DO YOUR CODE WORK

By Maryann Giacobbe

Real Estate Sales Representative with Houlihan Lawrence

October 21, 2011 10:02 AM

Topic Summary: Did you know that the average U.S. home spends $2,175 on utility costs per year? That's over $180 per month! A recent survey indicated that 86% of consumers wanted to know average energy costs they would have to pay before they move into a new home. What follows are some resources that will educate you on the many topics and terms involved in energy use and local energy codes. Energy Codes are minimum requirements for efficient design and construction for new and renovated residential and commercial buildings.

Teaching kids to save energy is more than having them turn out the lights when they leave a room. This cartoon website called ENERGY HOG is a great resource for you to navigate with your child and show them saving money on energy usage is serious stuff!

When you are contemplating any repairs you usually want to make sure they add to the overall value of your home at sale time. By building "to code" or even exceeding the code standards, you will be making some smart improvements. You probably are familiar with what the "R" Value of a insulating product is is. If not get up to speed here as a lot of the local codes relate to "R" value

These Resources are from Greener Choices.org

Energy Codes: What Consumers Need to Know (PDF)

Home Energy Code Guide (PDF)
An in-depth guide to home energy performance, including key features to look for to determine if your home meets national energy code standards.

What Parts Of Your Home Are Involved With Codes

Home Energy Code Checklist (PDF)
A 2-page summary checklist to determine if your home meets national energy code standards