{"id":19487,"date":"2020-10-13T09:58:40","date_gmt":"2020-10-13T16:58:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=19487"},"modified":"2026-03-31T12:02:05","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T19:02:05","slug":"buyer-green-home-improvements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-green-home-improvements\/","title":{"rendered":"The Green Home Improvements That Make the Biggest Lifestyle Difference"},"content":{"rendered":"

With research indicating that 37% of consumers<\/a> today are willing to seek out and pay up to 5% more for products that are environmentally friendly, it\u2019s no wonder that green home improvements have been a trending topic<\/a> over recent years. The interest in doing good for our globe continues to increase, and homeowners are looking for creative solutions to improve both their homes and their livelihoods.<\/p>\n

Real estate agents understand that buyers and sellers alike have significant interest in eco-conscious home upgrades<\/a> \u2014 59% of homeowners<\/a> reported an interest in sustainability in a 2019 National Association of Realtors<\/a> survey.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re among this majority and you\u2019ve been considering green home improvements of your own, you may be wondering where to start and how to determine which upgrades will prove most valuable. In this article, we\u2019ll explain strategies for how to determine which areas of your home would benefit most from going green, and we\u2019ll take a closer look at some of the associated lifestyle benefits beyond the obvious money-saving advantages.<\/p>\n

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<\/a> Source: (Kurteev Gennadii \/ Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

First things first: Seal it up<\/h2>\n

Unless your home was constructed within recent years, there\u2019s a high likelihood that it could use some tightening up. While visible cracks and openings to the outside are obvious spots in need of attention, air can slip through even the most unassuming of portals.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the biggest offenders that people don\u2019t realize are can lights<\/a> in the ceiling; a ton of air escapes through those,\u201d says Rob McGarty<\/a>, a top Seattle-based<\/a> agent who regularly advocates for energy efficiency programs.<\/p>\n

McGarty notes that while new-construction homes will undergo a blower door test<\/a> to catch air leaks, homeowners can similarly spot weaknesses in their home with the aid of a smoke pen<\/a>. These devices are inexpensive (there are many on the market for under $50) and are highly effective for helping to detect air leakage around windows, doors, recessed lighting, or any other suspect areas of your home. Simply release a stream of smoke and see where it\u2019s being pulled. Once you\u2019ve identified where air is escaping, it\u2019s a simple matter of caulking and sealing.<\/p>\n

This is an easy project that can be done yourself with minimal upfront expense. You\u2019ll just need a few basic supplies:<\/p>\n