Many of today’s buyers in the market for a Dallas home are looking for one that is eco-friendly. They want a house that is energy-efficient and combats detriments to the environment. Listed below are some relative easy to do and cost-efficient ways you can appeal to potential eco-conscious buyers.

1. Insulate. Insulate. Insulate. Use pipe insulators to keep hot water hot for a longer time and a hot water heater blanket ($10.00 to $20.00) to both prevent temperature loss and reduce the amount of electricity/gas needed to maintain the water temperature. Be aware that the further heat or air conditioning has to travel, the greater the temperature loss. Insulating your heating and cooling ducts can prevent up to 60% of this loss. Remember that even a small area of inadequate or damaged insulation can greatly reduce efficiency.

2. Reduce heating/cooling expenses. Replace or clean all filters on a regular basis to reduce inefficiency. Eliminate all sources of drafts by checking windows, doors, electrical outlets, fireplaces, and attic floors for leaks (even small cracks lead to energy loss) and by using caulking or weather stripping to seal them. In addition, for a cost of $200 to $400, you can run a blower door test to discover the main, and many times hidden, sources of energy leaks in your home.

It is also important to schedule a HVAC cleaning/checkup every two years and to investigate the need for a programmable thermostat to save energy while you sleep or are away from home. If your windows, aging appliances, furnace, or hot water heater needs to be replaced, you should certainly consider purchasing ENERGY STAR products to save 10% to 30% of the usual operating costs.

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I found a great website, Energy Savers, with energy saving tips for Dallas home owners. This site provides home owners with tips for saving energy and money at home and on the road. 

By following just a few of the simple tips found on this Energy Savers Web site, you can make your Dallas home more comfortable and easier to heat and cool-while you save money. The site also helps you beat the high cost of fuel, with driving and car maintenance tips to save you money on the road.

Some easy low-cost and no-cost ways to save energy include: 

• Install a programmable thermostat to keep your house comfortably warm in the winter and comfortably cool in the summer.
• Use compact fluorescent light bulbs with the ENERGY STAR® label.
• Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher’s drying cycle.
• Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use.
• Plug home electronics, such as TVs and DVD players, into power strips; turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use (TVs and DVDs in standby mode still use several watts of power).
• Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120°F.
• Take short showers instead of baths.
• Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes.
• Drive sensibly. Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gasoline.

Look for the ENERGY STAR label on home appliances and products. ENERGY STAR products meet strict efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency. 

If you are a Dallas home owner, I encourage you to check out the Energy Savers website. Following a few of their suggestions will not only put more money in your pocket, but make our planet healthier and greener. 

Thinking about buying Dallas real estate? Visit TexasHomeCentral.com. It’s a great place to learn about the local  real estate market and view Dallas homes for sale.

Earth Day, celebrated April 22, was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in in 1970. Earth Day’s purpose is to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s environment. It is held annually during both spring in the northern hemisphere and autumn in the southern hemisphere.

In observance of Dallas’ Earth Day, Verizon offers 9 tips for using technology to help you live a greener lifestyle:

1. Telecommute one day a week or once a month. Working from home using broadband connections can help reduce traffic congestion and reduce your fuel bill.

2. Recycle cell phones that are no longer used. Donating old phones to recycling programs will keep batteries out of landfills and help raise funds to assist domestic violence survivors.

3. Switch to paperless billing. Verizon residential customers helped save the equivalent of 52,000 trees last year by making the switch.

4. Have a virtual meeting. Use video conferencing instead of travel.

5. Shop online using a high-speed Internet connection instead of making a trip to the mall for a single item.

6. Watch a movie at home instead of driving to rent a movie or even to the theater.

7. Use a smart thermostat to reduce energy costs.

8. Use a mapping tool to find the most direct route to your destination to help save on fuel.

9. Use a smart power strip for your computer or wireless phone charger. Sensors in the strip turn off the power supply when the items are not in use, saving electricity and money.

Dallas Earth Day Celebrations.

More and more Dallas homebuyers looking for green features in the home they buy. The green trend is a means of lowering costs, becoming more environmentally friendly, and adopting a healthier lifestyle. 

The average green buyer will shell out $12,400–on average–for green features, according to the National Association of REALTORS. National Association of Home Builders green-building standards program manager Kevin Morrow expects the market share of green-certified homes to rise to 20 percent in 2010 from about 10 percent in 2009 and 2 percent in 2006. 

Green features Dallas homebuyers are looking for include energy efficiency, water efficiency, resource efficiency, and indoor air quality and include such elements as Energy Star appliances, low-flow shower heads, carpets and paint with low volatile organic compounds, and building materials procured from local suppliers.

Today’s Dallas homebuyers benefit from tax credits and other financial incentives. 

Learn more about buying green by visiting TexasHomeCentral.com or give us a call anytime. 

Dallas Home Buyers Going Green 

More and more Dallas home buyers looking for green features in the home they buy. The green trend is a means of lowering costs, becoming more environmentally friendly, and adopting a healthier lifestyle. 

The average green buyer will shell out $12,400–on average–for green features, according to the National Association of REALTORS. National Association of Home Builders green-building standards program manager Kevin Morrow expects the market share of green-certified homes to rise to 20 percent in 2010 from about 10 percent in 2009 and 2 percent in 2006. 

Green features Dallas home buyers are looking for include energy efficiency, water efficiency, resource efficiency, and indoor air quality and include such elements as Energy Star appliances, low-flow shower heads, carpets and paint with low volatile organic compounds, and building materials procured from local suppliers.

Today’s Dallas home buyers benefit form tax credits and other financial incentives. 

Learn more about buying green by visiting TexasHomeCentral.com or give us a call anytime. 

Search all Dallas homes for sale.

Add Some Green To Your Dallas Home

Related posts:

It’s Easy Being Green with Dallas Real Estate

The average U.S. household will pay $2,300 this year on residential energy costs, with heating accounting for almost 45 percent of that total, according to the Alliance to Save Energy, a nonprofit public policy group based in Washington, D.C.

Gas and electric costs are up from last year, the group says. Data from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration shows that homes heated with natural gas will pay about $30 more compared to last winter, while those heating with electricity will pay about $80 more.

In Pennsylvania, for example, where about 55 percent of residents’ home energy bills are devoted to heating, costs for consumers using natural gas or electricity are projected to increase by about $90 and $125, respectively, compared with last winter’s.

To help consumers cut costs, the Alliance is sharing these tips:

• Turn down the thermostat. In America, lowering it by just 1 degree can reduce heating energy costs by up to 5 percent–between $35 and $70, depending on the fuel used to heat the home.
• Plug leaks. Gaps between windows and doors may be small, but they can collectively add up to big energy losses. Plugging these leaks with caulk or other materials is the first action home owners should take to combat high heating fuel costs. By sealing those leaks and installing proper insulation, especially in the attic and crawl spaces, American households can reduce home heating costs by up to $180-$340 per year, depending on the fuel used.
• Heat people and pets, not empty space. About 80 percent of space is usually not being used at any given time. Closing vents in unoccupied rooms and using small space heaters to heat occupied areas can save a significant amount of energy and money.
• Use a programmable thermostat. It costs about $100, but if used properly, it can save American households up to 10 percent on their home heating bills–up to $90-$170 a year.
• Set the hot water heater at 130 degrees. Use cold water when washing clothes to save more energy and reduce bills for water heating.
• Replace the four most used bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. American households can save about $135 over the lifetime of the bulbs.
• Look for the label. When choosing a new heating and cooling system, windows, or appliances, consumers should purchase models with the ENERGY STAR label.
• Save gas on the road. Vehicle fuel economy can be improved with a few simple measures: tuning the engine (4 percent), using the recommended grade of motor oil (1-2 percent), keeping tires properly inflated (up to 3 percent), curbing aggressive driving such as speeding and rapid acceleration and braking (10 percent on average, but possibly as much as 33 percent), and removing unnecessary weight from the trunk (2 percent per 100 pounds). Even better, carpool, take public transportation, ride a bike or walk to really rack up the savings.

Download fact sheets on 2008-09 heating costs for Texas.

(Article courtesy of Realtor Magazine)

Not so long ago helping the environment meant recycling plastic and newspapers, but today it has evolved into “green” thinking and extends to our homes and our living environments.

According to a recent NAR survey, nine out of 10 Realtors® said their clients are interested in energy efficient features of green homes and the potential cost savings of such features. An overwhelming 90 percent agreed there will be even more interest in green building practices a year from now.

Results of a Harris Interactive poll by Move, Inc. show potential home buyers consider “green” building features more important than luxury amenities. Almost half of the adults surveyed (49 percent) said features such as solar panels or energy-saving appliances were “important,” compared to just 31 percent who rated luxury amenities important.
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It seems like everywhere I turn these days, every day products and services I use in Dallas are “going green.” Who knew Dallas Real Estate was going green too! Now, with so many ways available to help the environment, it may be overwhelming to figure out exactly how you as a Dallas homeowner can make changes.

This article from RealEstateJournal.com details five ways homeowners can add “green” upgrades to their home, saving money and increasing their homes’ values at the same time. Below is the list of suggestions, check out the article for full descriptions of each item:

• Washers that save energy and water
• Toilets that conserve water
• No-VOC paints
• Smart thermostat applications
• Low-flow faucets and shower heads

To learn more about owning a Dallas Fort Worth home or other Dallas real estate, please visit TexasHomeCentral.com, or call me at 800-326-9011. I would love to show you how we can help find you that “green” dream home in Dallas Texas.

Whether super city or hamlet, every home town bears the burden of providing food, shelter, resources, and energy for its residents. Until recently, many US cities have been more likely to be the cause of environmental ills than the solution.

If you are interested in relocating to McKinney and would like a free Relocation Package or interested in searching for homes in McKinney please visit us at www.TexasHomeCentral.com

Hoping to keep you lawn beautiful all summer? Yeah, that’s what I was thinking before the water restrictions started last year. Having worked for a new home builder in the past, I learned a few tricks to getting the lawn to take root, keeping it relatively green and survive the hot summer without drowning the yard in water. A lot of the problems with keeping the lawn healthy are not due to lack of water like some believe. The following information is what I handed out to the new home owners before they moved into their new home. I wish I could remember exactly where the information came from so I can give credit where credit is due. Aside from the information below, Neil Sperry’s website is a fantastic place to get tips for keeping your lawn and garden green!

When to Water the Grass
Most grasses take on a dull, dark appearance, leaves begin to roll and footprints will remain visible after the lawn is walked on when the lawn needs water. The best time to water is early morning. Midday watering does not harm the lawn; however, more water is lost to evaporation. Late evening watering encourages fungus diseases!

Fertilizer
A slow release nitrogen fertilizer helps plants use less water, and a lawn fertilizer with a 3-1-2 ratio of nitrogen (N) – phosphorus (P) – potassium (K), such as 15-5-10, is recommended to help grass withstand stress. Remember, each 100 pounds of 15-5-10 fertilizer contains 15 pounds of N, 5 pounds of P and 10 pounds of K. Fertilize lightly in the spring and again in early fall. Bermuda grass requires 2-5 pounds of Nitrogen per 1000 sq. ft. per year.