February 10th, 2011 Phyllis Wolborsky Posted

It is possible to conduct a series of tests to uncover how energy efficient your home is. In fact, if you are considering selling your home it could be a good idea to do so. There are professionals in Raleigh, NC and the surrounding Triangle area who conduct home energy audits, determining how much energy your home utilizes while at the same time indicating changes that can be made to make it more efficient.

An energy audit can uncover air leaks, insulation concerns, HVAC issues, lighting considerations and more. Locating and fixing air leaks caused by weak window and door seals can save up to 30% on energy bills, a significant savings. Sometimes fixing air leaks is as simple as caulking or adding weather stripping. Want to check yourself? Examine any area of your house where walls join windows or doors, or roofing materials meet skylights or chimneys.

Checking HVAC equipment can be done by a professional HVAC or plumbing technician. A general rule of thumb is that if a heating system or air conditioning system is more than 15 years old it is probably inefficient compared with more recent models. An annual exam of these systems before the season that they will be used is always a good idea as well. Keeping systems maintained adds to their efficiency.

Insulation often goes hand-in-hand with seals. While ceiling and wall insulation may be fine, checking in areas where walls meet roofs and chimneys meet roofing materials is a good idea. Tight seals and insulation keeps warmth in during colder months and cool air in during warmer months.

Another helpful tip, 60 watt light bulbs use less energy than 100 watt bulbs. There are also a host of energy efficient light bulbs available that decrease the energy used by your lighting fixtures.

Uncovering how energy efficient your home is, or isn’t, can help you market your home accordingly or make changes to your home that will make it more marketable. If you are ready to list your home please call me at 919-876-2372 or email me at phyllis.wolborsky@allentate.com . Click here for some more great ideas on how you and your home can save energy. I recommend David Carter with Remodel Home Energy if you are interested in an energy audit. Call David at 919-610-0053 or email him at Remodelenergy@gmail.com. Also click on the link below from the Allen Tate Blog site/Homes Services to get energy saving tips for your home during the winter. http://athome.allentate.com/2010/12/prevent-energy-loss-during-the-winter/. I am all about positioning and conditioning your home prior to going on the market. We have lots of competition and we must make a strong and positive statement every time the home is shown to be assured of less time on the market and the highest price when we have an offer. Please call me or one of my team members for more information about listing and buying a home in Raleigh, NC, Wake County and the surrounding Triangle area. Visit my website at www.PhyllisDidItAgain.com or www.AllenTate.com/PhyllisWolborsky.  Also visit  Brian Wolborsky at www.Raleighhomeguide.com, or call 919-427-9508, Mitchell Wolborsky at www.AllenTate.com/MitchellWolborsky, or call 919-270-1049, Kevin Wolborsky at www.Allentate.com/KevinWolborsky or call 919-608-2000, Rick Freeman and Amy Davis at www.HomeSearchRaleigh.com or call 919-649-2941, or  919-649-6638.  Please ask about our Free Neighborhood Market Report that will keep you up to date and in the know about real estate in your neighborhood. If you need assistance with getting some of your home maintenance chores out of the way contact Allen Tate Homes Services at 1-877-780-6601 or email them at home.services@allentate.com.  I hope you have a great day and remember, I can assistance you with all of your real estate needs in Raleigh, North Carolina and the surrounding Triangle areas.