New exterior features can often seem pointless, especially if you would rather spend that money on interior upgrades. But, exterior upgrades can help you sell your home more efficiently and also improve the efficiency of a building. How? Here’s more.
Image by New roof
Not everyone can have a living roof, but most people can have a “green” roof fairly easily. A commercial roofer will install a reliable and durable roof, which is the best option to ensure you do not need repairs often. And the great news is that improving the energy efficiency of your roof doesn’t have to be costly. Small improvements can deliver a big difference, not only to your home’s energy usage but also to the size of your energy bill.
Typically, about 25% heat is lost through the roof, in comparison to 35% through the walls, 15% through the floor, and 25% from windows and draughts. But the cost of insulating in the roof is usually much lower than the cost of solid wall insulation, so it is often more cost-effective to do the roof first.
Additionally, you could add more insulation under the roof in the attic. Newer buildings are often well insulated, while buildings several decades old (or older) can often benefit from an upgrade. Because hot air rises, the attic is one of the biggest culprits when it comes to heat loss. Even some newer buildings do not contain sufficient insulation in the room below the roof.
Install or seal windows and doors
By adding weather stripping or caulking around windows, a property owner can eliminate drafts and make a home cheaper to heat or cool. If taking this simple step is so effective, why would anyone want to spend the extra money to install new windows or a new front door? In buildings that feature older single-pane windows, sealing around the frame may not be enough.
Newer window models do a much better job at keeping the interior temperature regulated because they do not allow much hot or cold air to escape. Windows with wood frames or wood-clad frames offer the best value when it comes to insulation.
Revamp the garden
The garden can add to a building’s efficiency. You can install sustainable features that reduce your carbon footprint. For example, you could add a rainwater collector. When it rains outside, where does all the water go? If you don’t have a rainwater barrel, the water will fall on your roof, run through your gutters and pour out in a puddle alongside your house. But if you create a rainwater barrel, you can collect rainwater and use it to efficiently water your garden. Fortunately, this is not a hard project, so DIY-ers of all skill levels can tackle it. Just grab a plastic trash can, a drill, and a few other materials, and you’ll be one step closer to an energy-efficient garden.
You can also grow your own vegetables and your own plants. The best option is those that are drought-resistant, as do not need as much water to thrive, so if you have these in your garden, you won’t need to use as much energy to take care of them. Of course, you should only pick drought-resistant plants that will have no problem growing in your particular climate and region also peppermint plants are easy to grow.