Everyone knows natural gas saves money and energy and is the most reliable energy source on the market. Here’s another reason to consider natural gas when purchasing a new home or remodeling your existing home – Gas Fueled Homes Sell Faster. According to a study prepared for the Energy Solutions Center by the National Association of Homebuilders, homes powered by gas fuel sold for higher prices than all electric homes – regardless of the size of the home. On average, natural gas homes sold for 6% more than electric homes. Results of this study also showed:
- Nationally, average prices for a new home with gas heating systems and appliances was $328,549, compared with an average price of $308,520 for a comparable home with only electric heating systems and appliances.
- A typical gas home sells for $250,000 or more.
- A new home with natural gas equipment (e.g. heater, range, water heater, dryer or fireplace) generally sells more quickly than a new home with electric appliances.
Planning your remodeling project takes time. Consideration must be given to your investment and what your return on that investment will be. You can increase your home’s resale value, comfort factor, efficiency and performance by using natural gas for everyday comfort and livability. Here are some ways natural gas can fit into your remodeling project and improve the value and livability of your home:
Expand your living space
Outdoor kitchens, decks and patios increase your home’s value and homeowners can recoup as much as 72% of their costs for this investment. Natural gas grills offer lower fuel costs and the convenience of never running out of gas – which makes for a better outdoor cooking experience overall. Convenience outlets outside the home make it easy to add, move or switch natural gas appliances like grills, patio heaters, lighting, fireplaces and fire pits. For families that choose a “staycation” instead of a vacation, these improvements make your summer “staycation” perfection!
The Heat is on
Enhance home comfort and performance with gas heating. Natural gas heat is warmer and more efficient than its electric counterparts and gives your family the comfort you can afford. Natural gas furnaces heat rooms quickly, providing steady heat from room registers, regardless of the outside temperature (unlike an electric heat pump, which provides less heat as outdoor temperatures drop). Warm air from a gas furnace is 20 to 30 degrees warmer than air from an electric heat pump. Electric heat pumps deliver air at about 95 degrees, which is slightly cooler than your body temperature. Meanwhile, gas furnaces distribute air at around 120 degrees. According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, gas furnaces are among the most energy efficient sources of heating available.
Getting in Hot Water
Certain things are essential for home comfort – and high at the top of that list is hot water. Whether for showers, washing dishes or doing laundry, hot water is often taken for granted – until it’s not available. If your electric water heater is more than 10 years old, it is advisable to start looking into a new one – better to replace it before it fails and leaves you in the cold! Water heating can be up to 25% of your utility bill, so switching to a natural gas water heater can quickly add up to big savings.
Going tankless?
Tankless water heaters are among the newer alternatives that provide an investment you can enjoy immediately and which will improve your home’s value. Tankless units offer a slightly higher purchase cost than a standard tank-style, but have twice the longevity, offering more than 20 years of hot water. Other benefits include space savings, higher efficiency and lower water heating bills.
Spice Up The Kitchen
Switching to natural gas appliances can save you money right away and for the life of the appliances, and studies show that the majority of homebuyers prefer cooking with natural gas. Heat control and uniform heat are just a few of the advantages modern cooks enjoy with natural gas cooking. Bonus: owners of remodeled kitchens can recoup up to 73% of construction costs through increased resale value of their home.
Home is Where the Hearth Is
Homes with fireplaces tend to have stronger appeal for buyers than those without, often invoking feelings of warmth and coziness for prospective buyers. Natural gas fireplaces offer the warmth and beauty of a wood fire, without the mess, smoke, and slow start time. The National Association of Real Estate Appraisers has estimated that the selling price of a home can be increased anywhere from 6 to 12 percent simply by adding a fireplace.
Safety and Security During Storms
Natural gas standby power generators are designed to automatically provide electricity to your home during a power outage – without any harmful back-feeding – safely returning to standby mode when utility power resumes. Generators are dependable and permanently installed, and no fuel delivery or storage is needed. Natural gas is the perfect fuel for generators. Because natural gas is transported underground, it is a virtually uninterruptible source of energy for generators.
Natural Gas Is a Great Bargain!
In addition to the money you save by switching to natural gas, the City of Tallahassee Natural Gas Utility has great rebates on new gas appliances. We also offer incentives for our existing customers who are replacing old gas appliances. Call your City of Tallahassee Natural Gas Utility today to find out more about gas availability, rebates and low interest loans. 
