Buying Green - Or Greenish

This year’s energy scare is a taste of what will come. Experts all agree that our use of energy in this country has to change. So if you’re looking to buy a home, how do you choose a home that has a moderate appetite for energy? Although “green” homes are becoming more popular, they come at a price. But there are alternative choices that will provide savings if you are aware when you go looking.

The first thing to look at is the orientation of the home. Passive solar homes are designed to work with the sun. The ideal home is one with most windows facing the south. During the hot summer months, the sun moves over your house but will not directly shine into the south facing windows. During the winter months, the sun is lower and will shine into your south facing windows, providing solar warmth to your home. A home with a lot of west facing windows will have much higher cooling bills as the hot afternoon summer sun will penetrate even double glazed windows.

Next take a look at how the house conserves energy. The existing homeowner may be able to tell you what the energy efficiency rating is on the house. Are the windows double or tripple glazed? Is there insulation in the attic and under the floors (not all areas of the country need insulation under the floors). Do the built-in appliances have an ENERGY STAR rating? Is the home leaking energy? Sealing air leaks is the quickest and cheapest energy improvement you can make. Actual savings vary for each home, but it is possible to reduce energy costs by one-third. Sealing air leaks can save money in other ways, because a tighter home envelop allows for smaller-capacity heating and cooling equipment. The best way to reduce air leaks and implement the right ventilation strategy is to hire an energy analyst to run a blower door test.

Bear in mind that once you buy a home you there are other things you can easily do to increase the energy efficiency of your home. Unplug appliances when not in use, especially chargers. Switch to using energy efficient Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs). Look for ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs by choosing the right lumens (not watts). Use cold water to wash clothes, line dry items, use air dry instead of heated dry on your dishwasher. Invest in thermal shades or drapes.

So with a little forethought, your next home could be a partner in your effort to save both money and the earth’s natural resources!

About Deborah Kendrick
Deborah Kendrick is affliated with First Florida Realty of Tampa Bay, which is located in Land O Lakes, FL. For further assistance please use the contact information located on the right.

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22125 Eastlake Loop, Land O Lakes FL

Local Information for Land O Lakes, FL

Latitude: 28.203876 -- Longitude: -82.448798

ZIP Codes for Land O' Lakes, Florida	34637 34638 34639
Area Code for Land O' Lakes, Florida	813
Time zone for Land O' Lakes, Florida	EST

Other Area Cities: Land O' Lakes, FL Lake Magdalene, FL Lutz, FL Wesley Chapel, FL Egypt Lake, FL Carrollwood Village, FL Tampa, FL Zephyr Hills, FL

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Land O' Lakes is a census-designated place (CDP) in Pasco County, Florida, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the CDP population was 20,971. The city grew rapidly during the 1990s, growing from 7,800 residents to 20,971. The city is still growing rapidly as new housing developments are built, according to city estimates, the city has a population in 2007 of 30,250 residents. A new master planned community is being built in Land O' Lakes with approximately 8,766 homes, shops and restaurants, schools, and many franchises. It is expected to be a community of approximately 20,000-25,000 residents and will help Land O' Lakes to grow even more explosively. -- Source: Wikipedia.com

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Buying Green - Or Greenish

Local Information for Land O Lakes, FL

Latitude: 28.203876 -- Longitude: -82.448798

Enter our Photo Sweepstakes and Win $200 for your Land O' Lakes photos!

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