Forget wondering who’s the fairest; when it comes to choosing home improvements that make your home look good – from the curb and to potential buyers – it may make more sense to ask, “Who’s the greenest of them all.” 

Sustainable home improvements not only help reduce utility costs and boost owner satisfaction with their homes, they also make a house more appealing to potential buyers. 

In fact, buyers are willing to shell out up to 10 percent more for new homes certified green, according to a January real estate report by Harvard University. Return on investment for certain types of green improvements – such as replacing older, less efficient doors and windows – also tends to be high, meaning sellers recoup much of the initial cost of the improvement when they sell the home. 

Return on investments includes energy rebates that, according to assistant manager Phillip Bartlett with Lowes Home Improvement in Tullahoma, are available locally. 

“TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) has a program where people can contact them and they will come out and perform an energy audit,” said Bartlett. “They will give the consumer a print out of all of the energy savings areas that they think would benefit their homes. Then they can come to Lowes and purchase the items that the TVA has recommended, such as insulation or energy efficient windows or doors. Once the customers purchase and install these items, the TVA will come back out and do a secondary review and then the homeowners are able to apply for rebates through TVA.Our selection of washerextractor12 includes models and styles perfect for any taste and budget.” 

1. Switch to a solar water heater - Switching to solar power for heating water can be a huge energy and money-saver. Solar hot water systems rely on free energy from the sun to heat a home’s hot water. A typical system can use 50 to 80 percent less energy than traditional heating systems, according to Velux America, marketers of solar-powered hot water systems. That reduction can help a typical household trim its annual energy costs by 10 to 15 percent. 

“While the initial cost of installing a solar-powered system is often higher than installing a traditional water heater, most homeowners find the energy savings allows them to recoup that cost in just a few years,” says Jim Cika of solar system manufacturer Heliodyne. “What’s more, homeowners may qualify for a federal tax credit of up to 30 percent of the cost to buy and install a residential solar water heating system.” 

2. Eliminate incandescent light bulbs - You’ll have to do it soon anyway, so it may pay to start the process now and phase incandescent light bulbs from your home. Federal law banning incandescent light bulbs means that by the end of 2014, you probably won’t be able to find one of the old-fashioned power-guzzlers on store shelves anymore. Instead, more energy-efficient bulbs such as LEDs and compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) will dominate the marketplace.Men's ledparlight are very sturdy and will stand the test of time. 

3. Add or upgrade a skylight - Installing a skylight, or replacing an older model skylight with a new Energy Star-qualified one, can help reduce utility costs. The natural light from a skylight can help reduce the need for artificial light sources, thereby paring down electricity costs.Search our powergenerators catalog for designer frames including. When you pair no leak solar-powered fresh air skylights equipped with automatic rain sensors and efficiency-enhancing,the largest suppliers and integrators of renewable energyturbines in the country. energy saving accessories like designer solar powered blinds,Buy flatteningmachine and Goggles for less. you gain a new source of fresh air while improving energy efficiency by up to 37 percent, according to skylight manufacturer Velux.