Eco-Friendly Home Upgrades That Pay You Back
Saturday, November 5, 2011 at 11:37AM by Barbara Summers 
Image Credit: GreenandSave.com and One Block Off the Grid
I think that most people can agree that the questions in the back of our minds when considering green home improvements is "How much will it cost?" and "What is the return on my investment?" Many eco-renovations or new green construction have higher upfront costs than standard construction. This often makes it harder to justify green projects - unless return on investment or how long it takes to break even is taken into consideration. You can't really talk about construction costs and not take into consideration how much it will take to live in the home or operate the business. Many people cannot afford to live in their "inexpensive" houses, given their utility bills.
Green construction tends to have a better return on investment due a decrease in expenses from energy efficiency or lower water usage. But you still may be wondering, how do I know which eco-renovations have the best return on investment?
GreenandSave.com has tackled this question by providing a ranking of various green home improvements based on their return on investment. Click on the image above to see the entire diagram made by One Block Off the Grid based on GreenandSave.com’s estimates. Or click here to see a breakdown of the return on investment for green tune ups, green remodels, or green advanced systems.
GreenandSave.com has calculated the return on investment for many eco-friendly upgrades based on an average U.S. home size of 2,500 square feet. The calculations are based on comprehensive local and national research and a combination of reports from the U.S. Department of Energy, the EPA, ENERGY STAR® for Homes Program, US Green Building Council’s LEED for Homes and Office Programs, seasoned Builders and Installers, and home and business owners with actual Performance Feedback.
It is important to remember that these numbers are only an estimate. The actual return on investment depends on many factors, including your home size and the actual product. There are also many other reasons to consider green renovations and new construction that cannot be broken down into financial terms. These include providing a healthier and more comfortable environment, and increasing productivity of a business.