Get matched with top energy efficiency auditors in Lewiston, MI

There are energy-efficient options when building a cottage. Select green building materials, high-performance insulation, and energy-efficient windows when designing your cottage. Options such as solar panels, efficient HVAC systems, and LED lighting can lower your utility bills and reduce your environmental impact. Many builders offer energy-efficient upgrades as part of the design process.

Energy output depends on turbine size, average wind speed at your site, and system efficiency. A 5 kW turbine in a good wind location can generate 8,000 to 12,000 kilowatt-hours per year, which may cover a large portion of an average home’s needs. Accurate output estimates require a professional wind assessment and a review of your household’s energy usage patterns.

While parts of the appraisal are out of your control, there are some things you can do to potentially raise the home’s value. You can make necessary repairs and upgrades before the appraiser visits—an appraiser can only value what is currently part of the home, not its potential. You can also provide the appraiser with the cost of recent upgrades. The appraiser will likely increase the value of your home by about 50% or more of what you paid for those improvements.

Motion-sensor lights use one watt while on standby and five watts while turned on. They’re usually on for one hour over a 24-hour period, bringing the total wattage to about 28 watts per day. LED lights use around 6.5 to 8 watts while on. If you leave an LED light on all night, with night ranging from 10 to 14 hours, you’re looking at using 65 to 112 watts a night. You can minimally cut your wattage in half by switching to a motion-sensor light.