Why You Should Green Your Home Before You Refinance

Lots of people wonder if this is a good time to refinance, and it's a good question. Today, I'm happy to feature another great post by guest blogger, AJ Earley, who offers a unique perspective for you to consider.

Millions of Americans refinance their homes every year, and it’s no wonder, considering that billions of dollars are lost every year by the ones who don’t refinance. Everyone’s situation is different, and plenty of people pay off the life of their mortgage without ever pursuing a new loan. However, if you’re in a position to actually save money by doing so, it just makes sense to at least check into it. 

If you’re broaching a point in your life where a refinance might be on the horizon, it’s also the perfect time to consider “greening” up your home a little bit. While many people refinance for the sole purpose of using the equity to pay for renovations, there are so many benefits to upgrading your home before you refinance. 

The first is the fact that you will definitely receive a higher appraisal, meaning a higher property value when you go to refinance. Generally, your investment will have a much higher payoff in the appraisal process, but there are a few home improvement projects that have a higher payoff than others. Anything that makes your home more energy efficient, environmentally friendly, “smart,” or generally “green,” almost always falls into this category. Plus, your investment will pay off double if you go the energy efficient route: once when your home is appraised at a much higher value, and again every time you get a tiny or non-existent power bill. I’ve even heard of people getting paid by the power company monthly because their homes created too much energy. 

Image by Kevin Phillips

Another benefit of receiving a higher appraisal rate is that a better refinance deal will result in even more money for you to invest in greening your home more down the road. Say you’ve got your eye on a $75,000 complete solar energy system for your home, but you only have $30,000 to invest. If you invest that $30,000 in other areas, that could result in an appraisal that’s $50,000 to $80,000 higher than your current value, which is more equity that could end up in your pocket… or in the hands of the company selling that snazzy solar system. 

As mentioned before, some home improvements result in much higher valuations than others. At the top of the list of renovations that return on their investment is kitchens. Having an updated kitchen means serious bonus points come appraisal time, but having the latest in energy efficient appliances and technology will boost those numbers even more. 

Window and door replacements are also well worth the money, as both give you a chance to improve the look and energy efficiency of your house at the same time. Both doors and windows have come a long way in the past decade, and they’ll also cushion your wallet in more ways than just a higher appraisal: replacing old windows with energy star rated ones can save you almost $500 a year in heating and cooling bills. If you want to save even more, open up those windows when the weather is nice! 

A fresh coat of paint all around the house, as well as new carpeting or flooring also yields a high return, but make sure you opt for products that don’t contain toxic VOCs (volatile organic compounds.) Generally, hard floors are considered “greener” than carpeting, as they last longer between replacements and require less electricity and cleaning products to maintain, but you can find carpeting made from recycled materials. Bamboo flooring and tiles made of recycled glass are also sustainable (and attractive) options that will increase your home’s value. 

Revival Engineered Locking Bamboo

Adding an additional bathroom, especially to an older home that has a smaller ratio of bathrooms to bedrooms than we see in recent years, is another home improvement project that yields a great return, and it’s also another chance to make your home more eco-friendly. There are so many ways to create a greener bathroom: first off, install a low-flow toilet with a dual flush mechanism to reduce water waste, or even a hybrid where the gray water from the bathroom sink is recycled into the toilet bowl. When it comes to hot water, you can opt for a solar powered water heater or install a waste-heat recovery system, which uses the warm water going down the drain to preheat the rest of the water. You can fight mold and mildew a more natural way by making sure there are windows for ventilation and by using naturally mold-resistant materials like cork, marmoleum, natural clay, and water-resistant woods like cedar. 

Don’t forget that there are also lots of ways to make your home more energy efficient for under $100, and if you’re planning to refinance and want to have a greener home to boot, consider doing at least some of those renovations beforehand and reap the rewards later on down the road.

10 Things You (Probably) Didn’t Know Vinegar Could Do (Unless you've read my book, of course!)

TGIVF! This month, I'm happy to feature a guest post from AJ Earley, who drew some of the info from previous Vinegar Friday posts throughout the year. 

Here are ten things that you might not have known about the wonderful and endlessly useful vinegar:

Stay Hydrated Through Morning Sickness

Photo courtesy of Petr Kratochvil

Vinegar can be useful for many aches and pains during pregnancy, but there’s one way it can help that you may not have heard of yet. Women experiencing morning sickness may find it difficult to stay hydrated, especially if water feels harsh in their tumultuous tummies. Dehydration can be especially dangerous for pregnant women and their babies, but adding a bit of apple cider vinegar and honey to a glass of water can help with morning sickness in more ways than one. First, it will help balance electrolytes to make good use of the water you do manage to keep down. Second, it can help replace stomach acid lost from vomiting, which in turn can ease your tummy and make it easier to digest food.

Treats The Symptoms of Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a skin disorder that comes with a host of uncomfortable symptoms, including dry, scaly, or flaky skin, which can itch, burn, or sting. The medications for this disease come with a host of negative side effects, but the good news is that ACV has been used as a remedy for psoriasis symptoms since ancient times. It can help relieve itching and burning, as well as naturally balance the skin’s pH, which minimizes dryness and flaking.

Treats Acne

Acne is an problem most of us experience as teens, and many of us deal with well into adulthood. There are chemical-filled acne treatments out there, as well as medications that have horrendous side effects, but did you know that vinegar is a safe and effective acne treatment? Just combine 2 teaspoons of ACV with a cup of water, apply it after you wash your face twice a day. This solution works as a toner that will shrink pores and help you say goodbye to blemishes forever!

Photo courtesy of Maliz Ong

Keeps Your Mouth Clean And Bright

Bad breath is an unfortunate, yet common, problem. It can be especially bad after waking up in the morning or eating strong, smelly foods. ACV can help eliminate bad breath on contact: either drink a tablespoon after each meal, or gargle with a solution of ½ tablespoon to a cup of of water. 

Can Detect Cervical Cancer

Did you know that vinegar can be used as an inexpensive and accessible way to detect cervical cancer and pre-cancer? This is especially beneficial in impoverished and war-torn areas, where women either have no access to pap smears, or don’t have the money to obtain one. Vinegar is literally saving lives by providing women in third-world countries with early diagnoses.

Makes The Most Of Your Workout

Whether you’re a fitness enthusiast or someone who only goes to the gym occasionally, you definitely want to make the most of your hard work. A tablespoon of AVC before a workout can boost your efforts in more ways than one. First off, it helps balance your pH, which provides better stamina and less of a chance of pain. It helps keep your muscles from cramping and improves their recovery time, and it also gives you more energy naturally.

Photo courtesy of Karen Arnold

Removes Deposits From Water Pumps And Filters

If you own a fish tank, a fountain, a spa, or any sort of water feature that uses a pump or a filtering system, you know that mineral deposits build up quickly. But, do you really need caustic calcium, lime, and rust removing products to get rid of them? No! Vinegar can clean deposits from fountain pumps and filters naturally, and is much safer for any creatures who live in or may drink from the water you are circulating.

Keeps Flowers Fresh

If someone gives you the gift of flowers, you want to enjoy them for as long as possible. The “flower food” packets that often come with a bouquet contain bleach and chemicals meant to keep stems from closing. Neither are safe to have around, especially if there are kids or pets in the house that might ingest the water. But, did you know that vinegar can keep flowers fresh and prevent wilting for longer? Just add a dash of AVC to the water in the vase, and replace the solution every two days.

Photo courtesy of Daniele Pellati

Squeaky Clean Spectacles

Those of us who wear glasses (or even sunglasses) know how pesky fingerprints can be. They are primarily made of grease, which is difficult to remove. A simple wipe with a cloth just spreads it around, and commercial glasses cleaners can be wrought with unhealthy chemicals that end up right near your face. But, adding a bit of distilled white vinegar to the cloth before wiping them down will eliminate fingerprints and safely disinfect your spectacles.

Laundry Room Essential

No laundry room is complete without a bottle of distilled 

white vinegar. But, did you know that DWV can do more 

than just keep your colors from running? Washing brand new clothes with a cup or so of DWV removes whatever chemicals may have been used in the manufacturing process, and works as a fabric softener, too! It softens clothes and helps eliminate static from tumble drying, and won't build up on clothes like traditional fabric softener, which can decrease the absorbency of clothing and make them harder to clean with each cycle.

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So, what are your best kept vinegar secrets? Share in the comments to keep the vinegar revolution going!

How to Stay Green During Your Big Move

Today, I'm happy to feature another excellent post by guest blogger, AJ Earley.

So, you’ve found a new place to live. First off, congratulations! Second, I guess it’s time to get ready for the dreaded task we all hate: moving.

I recently helped a friend move, and I was very disappointed to see her using a ton of plastic and paper products during the process, as well as a whole smattering of chemicals when it came time to clean up the empty house. The fumes got so bad I had to to bow out and let her finish the cleaning on her own.

There are varying levels of green you can strive for when you are moving, but even a little effort is better than none at all. Here are some tips to reduce your environmental impact when you switch to your new house.

Get Organized

You’ll want to start organizing well in advance of your move. It will be a lot easier to follow the rest of these tips if you’re prepared every step of the way. Something like this moving checklist that is broken down by weeks before the move can help you with that process. Six weeks is a good amount of time to start sorting out all the details, but if you don’t have that much time, get started as early as possible.

Purging is another thing that can help you stay green and organized once moving day comes. You can start early and try to get rid of as much as you can, or streamline the process and sort out unused items while packing. A good rule of thumb is if you haven’t used it in a year, and don’t see yourself using it again in another year, it can go. Of course, donate and recycle everything possible.

Pack Smart

Let’s face it, moving without a single cardboard box is generally not a possibility. What’s most important is to avoid buying boxes before the move just to throw them out afterwards. Re-use as many old boxes as you can, and either save them or donate them to someone else afterwards.

There are also a couple of options to avoid cardboard boxes. You can purchase plastic bins made from recycled material if you intend to repurpose or reuse them after the move. Old milk crates or wooden vegetable crates can come in handy for organization after the move.

There are a few eco-friendly packing materials available, but the easiest and greenest way to go is to just use your towels, linens, and clothing. Use these to keep your dishes and fragile knick-knacks safe or to wrap up your pictures and artwork. Not only will your linens do a great job of keeping your items safe, it will also ensure you don’t waste a bunch of plastic trash bags or cellophane on packing clothes and wrapping materials.

Rent a Truck

In the end, it’s more environmentally friendly, and more cost-effective, to rent a moving truck. You’ll only have to make one trip as opposed to several, which will help keep those greenhouse gasses out of the air. There are also a few moving companies that have greener, more fuel-efficient options, so do your research to see if you can find one in your area.

Clean Up

Once you’ve got everything moved out, it’s time to clean up the old place. There is absolutely no reason to use harsh chemicals during this process. Vinegar is the answer to almost any cleaning quandary you could come up with: from floors to walls to fixtures, it’s even good for deodorizing and disinfecting appliances. Vinegar will help get rid of grease and grime, as well as sticky substances and nasty odors. Almost every surface in your home can be made brand new without harmful cleaning agents that can make you sick ... or worse.

Even if you have a serious issue like a musty smell in your basement due to moisture and mold, a few gallons of distilled vinegar can solve the problem. The exterior surfaces of your home can be cleaned with a vinegar solution.

About the only thing you shouldn’t do with vinegar is shampoo your carpets, which is probably necessary unless you are completely replacing them. When you search for a carpet cleaning company, make sure they are a Certified Green Cleaner that doesn’t use any environmental toxins that can be hazardous to you, your kids, or your pets.

Happy Moving!

I hope these tips will help you sleep better (and healthier) at night, both before and after your big move.


Do you have any tips to add? We'd love to hear about them in the comments below.

Quick Tips: 2 More Ways to Save Energy at Home

Yesterday, guest blogger AJ Earley gave us 8 great tips on how to save energy (and money) at home for under $100. Today, she adds 2 more ways that will save you money in the long run.

Additional Ways to Save Energy and Money

$20 - $60: Invest in a smart power strip. These come in all shapes and sizes, and are built to monitor and control the flow of power to your high-consumption devices. Even better, a single smart strip can save you anywhere from $10 - $20 monthly.

$35 - $100: Invest in a programmable thermostat [like the one above available at Target for $34.99]. This will allow you to set different temperatures during different times of day. If your home is empty when everyone is at school or work, you can adjust the thermostat by six to ten degree during that period and have it kick back to normal before everyone arrives home so you’re never uncomfortable. Most people actually sleep more comfortably with the temperature a few degrees cooler at night, as well. There are a number of models available for under $100, and can save you that much in heating and cooling costs in less than a year.

What ways do you save energy in your home?

8 Ways to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient for Under $100

I'm happy to welcome back guest blogger AJ Early, who is offering some great tips on creating an energy efficient home. Click here to read her post on sustainable remodeling.

8 Ways to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient 
for Under $100

There are countless benefits to making your home more energy efficient. The first, of course, is the money you'll save. It's equally important to lessen your impact on the environment through responsible energy consumption. There are also monetary benefits aside from lower power bills. An energy efficient home can help you reap benefits like green tax credits and can even give you access to special types of loans, like energy efficient mortgages.

Consuming less energy in your everyday life does not have to be difficult or expensive. Here are some ways to reduce your usage, sorted from cheapest to most expensive. Even taking one small step can make a huge difference, and I'm willing to bet there's at least one thing on this list that is feasible for you.

Image courtesy of Peter Griffin

1. Free: Unplug your electronics when they're not in use. This sounds tedious, but unplugging things like device chargers and televisions when they're not being used can help your home cycle energy more efficiently. Plus, you'll save money!

2. Free: There are a whole bunch of ways to save energy when cooking. Only preheat your oven for five minutes, and leave the door cracked when you're done to help heat the house during winter. Glass and ceramic are much more efficient materials for baking, and a toaster oven is always more efficient, if it fits. When cooking on the stovetop, use a heating coil that is about one inch smaller than your pot and use a lid to trap heat in.

3. Free: Take the screens off your windows during the winter. This will only be a short time investment twice a year, but will help more sunlight penetrate your windows during the cold winter months. Doing this can actually raise the temperature in your home by a few degrees on sunny days.

Image courtesy of Shari Weinsheimer

4. Free: Ease into a comfortably warm winter and still reduce your heating bill by following these recommended thermostat settings: Find whatever temperature is ideal for your family and start there. Stay there until you're used to the colder weather, then reduce the thermostat by one degree each week. You won't notice such a gradual change, but you will notice a much lower power bill.

5. Free: Dust and vacuum the coil and fan behind your refrigerator every few months. Dusty build-up can disrupt air flow and slow down the moving parts of your fan, which results in higher energy consumption. The only cost is the electricity used to run the vacuum for a few minutes.

6. $5 - $20: Change your air filter. Depending on where you live, your HVAC system runs most of the year to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home. Keeping the air filter clean and fresh is an important part of ensuring that your heating and cooling systems run efficiently.

According to energystar.gov, you should replace your air filter every month, especially during heavy usage.

7. $10 - $50: Adding weatherstripping (a sticky-backed foam tape that is easy to apply) to your windows and doors can make a huge difference, especially if your home is older. In a newer home, windows won't need any help, but you can still benefit from sealing your door frame and the area underneath your door. Weather stripping can be found for as little as $1.50 a yard, which makes it one of the most cost-efficient ways to optimize your home's energy consumption.

Image courtesy of Summer Woods

8. $15 - $50: Seal your switchplates, electrical outlets, escutcheon plates, and anywhere pipes or vents enter your home. For the outlets and switchplates, you can find inexpensive foam sealers at the hardware store and secure them to the wall with a little caulk. They fit right under your existing outlet covers and keep cold air from leaking in. Take it even farther by using baby-proof plastic plugs in the outlets you're not using. You can seal your excutcheon plates (the round covering where a pipe comes out of the wall) quickly with some caulk. Spray foam is also very cheap and can be used to seal any area where pipes or vents enter or exit your home. Sealing all these little areas of your home will drastically reduce your energy usage. The following simple infographic can help you identify areas in your home that could use some help.

Courtesy of American Chemistry Council, Inc.

Click here for 2 more great tips on saving energy and money in your home.