Look: Returns on Your Green Investments Austin

Look: Returns on Your Green Investments
Austin

We’ve been hearing about all sorts of ways to “green” our homes for awhile now. Some methods are simple and affordable, but other green ways can be pricey. If you don’t plan on living in your current home forever, how can you be sure your investments will make a good return? More after the jump…

A recent issue of Metropolitan Home magazine had a great article from the website greenandsave.com charting some green home investments and their rate of return. Among them: solar panels, which will cost you $13,000 to install and give you payback in 10.8 years and will save you $1200 annually. Insulated walls and low-e windows cost around $700 and will bring you a payback in a little over 2 years, and both save you $300 a year. Rainwater collection is the most affordable of the investment at only $120 to start with, but will only save you $20 a year and take 6 years for a return. You can learn about more green investments and see if any of your green projects are listed at greenandsave.com.

What are some of the affordable and not-so-affordable ways you've incorporated green ideas into your home? Tell us how much you spent and whether it's been worth it!