Becoming Energy efficient in your home can get you top dollar for your property

Sprucing up your home before you put it on the market to sell is important and worth every hammer and nail you put into it. You have heard from many television shows and articles about the basics to improve your chances of selling your home ie. Fresh paint, de-clutter, stow personal items etc. Now we are going to look at the big picture and helping your home, whether you are selling it or just want to make some Green improvements, here are some handy things to remember.

What to replace? If you really want to get top dollar for your property consider greening your home with some of these suggestions.

Energy Saving appliances - Get rid of trash compactors, although they were popular in the 80´s, we have since become a society that recycles, organizing our trash.

If you have a dishwasher that is older then 1994, chances are it does not have the Energy Star qualifications. Look for energy/water consumption specifics.

Qualified water heaters are transforming the way in which we heat our water.  Newer models will be on the market later in 2009.  They will utilize super efficient technology to cut electrical water heating costs by more than half. 
 
Stove or range replacements can renovate any kitchen. Choose a range with a cast-iron hood and flat or glass stove tops that will combine the advantages of quick on and off temperature control and thus leaving cleaner emissions to provide the best of both.

The older a furnace, say 10 or 20 years old, the more chance it has of being inefficient. Look for new gas furnaces with induced-draft system or brings outside air directly into the combustion chamber. Most furnaces are guaranteed for 5 years for all parts, with a lifetime warranty on the heat exchanger. Since this is a high end cost for you, be sure to ask around or go to your local yellow pages for a good "Heating and Furnace" service.

Typically, older houses were built with poor levels of insulation. As insulation ages, it compresses, becoming less effective at preventing heat transfer. Dust and moisture also contribute to the aging process in insulation.

A leak in the body of a water heater requires immediate replacement. If there is a major malfunction, such as complete or partial loss of hot water supply, leakage around plumbing fittings, or the appearance of excessive corrosion on the heater body itself or at the heater's plumbing connections, AND the unit is more than eight years old, replacement may be preferable to repair (if a repair is possible, that is). I would leave this up to your budget and repair skills.

What to look for while shopping for new appliances.
The ENERGY STAR label is the government's seal of approval. It was created by the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These agencies set the criteria to help shopping for large and small home appliances and to identify the most energy-efficient products on the market. ENERGY STAR-labeled appliances exceed existing federal efficiency standards, typically, by 13% to 20%, and as much as 110% for some appliances. Customers can be assured that the appliance being purchased is a high-performance product which will reduce the operating cost of that appliance or product every month during the course of its lifetime.

Energy Star products for your home remodel :