A few people were talking in the office the other day about how small their electric bills were due to the use of solar panels. One gentleman disclosed that the bill on his home in Arizona was barely above what would be typical for running standard kitchen appliances. This was when his air conditioner was continuously running to beat the hot desert sun. The Minnesota home was squeaking by with being charged an electrical bill that was less than most streaming services. These are wonderful endorsements for an eco-friendly real-estate-related energy application.
A group of realtor types don’t think word-of-mouth stories like these are enough to spread the word about eco-friendly energy use. They want the dollars saved through higher efficiency and more environmentally positive energy use to show up in the numbers. If a home has a certain level of insulation or a particularly efficient set of appliances, then the market should bear a higher price for that property, they reason. So instead of trying to find it in the price determined by buyers and sellers in a meeting of the minds, they suggest appraisers add a tweak post-sale. When in doubt- fudge it, I guess.
The reality is that the benefits of newer mechanicals and construction are featured in price. The reduced electric bill from solar panels is in there, too. It’s just not as standout noticeable as some people want. Therefore, I suggest they spend their efforts on another end to this issue. The focus should be on hyping up those communities where the ethos of the problems is alive and well. More people will be on board if they feel the acceptance of the norm by others. Start in the middle and work out.
I’m not sure utility bills and insulation thickness are the lowest-hanging fruit. Proper disposal of all the old appliances, depleted mechanicals, and construction debris seems much more problematic. Think of the rusty wall heater in the basement or the moldy knotty pine paneling from fifty-odd years ago. Face it, people are bad about staying on top of clutter; part of this is disposal.
Start a movement- clean out your house!
Home Economics 