The Inspector's Notebook

Tag: home

  • The Hidden Economy in Your Walls: 10 Simple Ways to Cut Energy Waste at Home

    The Hidden Economy in Your Walls: 10 Simple Ways to Cut Energy Waste at Home

    Welcome (back) to The Inspector’s Notebook—where practical insight meets long-term thinking. Whether you’re a longtime homeowner, a first-time buyer, or just someone who wants to better understand the place you live, this blog is here to help you see your home through a sharper lens. Our goal? Help you live smarter, safer, and more sustainably—without the noise.

    What if I told you your home is quietly bleeding money? Not through theft or disaster—but through inefficiency.

    Every flick of a light switch, every moment your furnace hums to life, and every unnoticed draft is part of a quiet equation most people never see. Fortunately, solving this equation doesn’t require massive lifestyle change—just awareness and small, strategic action.

    Here are ten easy, proven ways to save money and energy in your home—backed by building science and wrapped in common sense.

    1. Don’t Heat the Whole Neighborhood

    Air leaks are silent budget thieves. Gaps around windows, doors, and attic hatches allow your heated or cooled air to escape. Seal them with weatherstripping or caulk. The best energy savings aren’t glamorous—they’re hidden in the details.

    2. Let Your Thermostat Think for You

    Programmable or smart thermostats reduce heating and cooling costs by adjusting to your schedule—even when you forget. Just a few degrees of difference can translate into real savings over time, without sacrificing comfort.

    3. Rethink Water Heating

    Tankless water heaters only heat what you use, when you use it. No more paying to keep 40 gallons warm while you’re at work. They cost more upfront, but pay for themselves in efficiency—especially in homes that use moderate to high amounts of hot water.

    4. Change Your Bulbs, Change Your Bill

    Incandescent bulbs are like tiny space heaters that also happen to give off light. LEDs, on the other hand, sip electricity while lasting 25 times longer. Replacing just a few high-use bulbs can lead to noticeable monthly savings.

    5. Use Fans with Purpose

    Ceiling fans don’t cool the air—they move it. In the summer, this helps you feel cooler at a higher thermostat setting. In the winter, reversing the blade direction circulates warm air downward. It’s physics working for you, not against you.

    6. Insulate Like You Mean It

    Most heat loss occurs through the attic and walls. If your insulation is sparse, compressed, or missing entirely in spots, your heating system has to work harder. More work means more fuel. More fuel means more money—out of your pocket.

    7. Fix the Small Leaks

    A dripping hot water faucet doesn’t just waste water—it wastes the energy used to heat that water. Low-flow fixtures and timely repairs reduce the loss at both ends of the equation.

    8. Unplug the Energy Vampires

    Devices plugged in but not in use still draw power. It’s called “phantom load.” Power strips with kill switches make it easy to cut the cord when you’re not actively using electronics.

    9. Get Strategic with Landscaping

    Deciduous trees can shade your home in summer and let in sunlight during the winter. Plant them on the west and south sides of your home and you’ll use less energy to control the temperature indoors—all through the natural rhythms of the seasons.

    10. Get a Home Energy Audit

    Want the blueprint? A professional energy audit will show you exactly where your home is underperforming and how to fix it. It’s not guesswork—it’s science applied to your walls, windows, ducts, and systems.

    The Bottom Line

    Your home is a machine. And like any machine, it works best when its parts are aligned, clean, and not working harder than they need to. Saving energy isn’t just good for your wallet—it’s a quiet form of resilience. A way to protect yourself from volatility. A step toward independence.

    Efficiency isn’t just about using less—it’s about living smarter.

    If you’d like help understanding where your home could be saving more, Green Mountain Property Inspections offers energy-aware home inspections and can connect you with trusted professionals. It all starts with seeing your home for what it is—and what it could be.

  • Radon: The Invisible Risk Lurking in Your Home—and What You Can Do About It

    Radon: The Invisible Risk Lurking in Your Home—and What You Can Do About It

    Welcome back to The Inspector’s Notebook, where we unpack the invisible details that make a house a home—or a hazard. Our goal is simple: to bring peace of mind through clarity. Whether you’re a homeowner, buyer, or just someone who values a healthy living space, today’s post is about something you won’t see in your attic, crawlspace, or basement. But you should know it’s there.

    Let’s talk about radon.

    What Is Radon—and Why Should You Care?

    Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas. It forms when uranium in soil, rock, or water breaks down and seeps into the air you breathe—often through cracks in your foundation or basement slab. Odorless, tasteless, and invisible, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, responsible for over 21,000 deaths each year according to the EPA.

    This isn’t just a hypothetical danger. It’s a proven health risk. And here’s the kicker: you won’t know it’s there unless you test.

    “But I Already Own My Home…”

    Perfect—this message is especially for you.

    Radon isn’t just a concern during a real estate transaction. In fact, homes of all ages, sizes, and construction types can have high radon levels—regardless of whether they passed a test years ago. Geological shifts, settling foundations, and changes in HVAC usage can all impact radon levels over time.

    So whether you’ve lived in your home for one year or twenty, testing is a small step that could make a big difference. Think of it as a health screening for your house.

    Why Professional Testing Matters

    At Green Mountain Property Inspections, we’re proud to now offer radon testing using state-of-the-art electronic monitoring equipment. Unlike outdated charcoal canisters or DIY kits, our professional-grade monitors provide:

    • Accurate hourly readings
    • Tamper detection
    • Faster turnaround
    • Peace of mind backed by data

    We follow strict protocols to ensure reliable results and provide clear, actionable reporting—no guesswork, no jargon.

    Who Should Test for Radon?

    • Homeowners who have never tested their property—or haven’t tested in the past five years.
    • Home buyers making one of the most important decisions of their lives.
    • Real estate agents who want to offer their clients full confidence.
    • Families with young children, elderly residents, or anyone with respiratory conditions—because these groups are more vulnerable to radon exposure.

    Take the First Step Toward a Healthier Home

    Testing for radon is simple, fast, and affordable. And now that Green Mountain Property Inspections offers advanced radon testing, it’s also easier than ever.

    Reach out today to schedule your test. Because what you don’t see can hurt you—and knowing is the first step to fixing.

    Green Mountain Property Inspections
    ✔ Licensed & InterNACHI Certified
    ✔ Now Offering Radon Testing
    ✔ Serving Vermont with Integrity and Insight

    📞 802-310-3897
    🌐 http://www.greenmountainpropertyinspections.com
    📧 Lucian@greenmountainpropertyinspections.com

    Science doesn’t ask for your attention—it waits in the background. So does radon.
    Take action. Test today.

  • How Green Mnt. Property Inspections Can Help You Protect Your Biggest Investment — And Why We’re Different

    How Green Mnt. Property Inspections Can Help You Protect Your Biggest Investment — And Why We’re Different

    Welcome to The Inspector’s Notebook
    If this is your first time here, welcome — we’re glad you found us. The Inspector’s Notebook is a space where clarity meets insight. We break down the unseen systems, overlooked risks, and quiet details that can make or break your home investment. Whether you’re a first-time buyer, a seasoned investor, or a real estate professional, this blog offers field-tested advice, grounded in years of real-world experience, for navigating the complexities of property ownership. Our goal is simple: to bring peace of mind through clarity.

    How We Help You Protect Your Biggest Investment

    Let’s be honest — buying a home is one of the most emotionally charged financial decisions you’ll ever make. Beneath the freshly painted walls and the gleam of stainless appliances is an infrastructure that either supports your dream… or slowly erodes it.

    That’s where we come in. At Green Mnt. Property Inspections, we don’t just “look around.” We interrogate the systems that hold your home together. We inspect with the mindset of an advocate — someone who understands building science, sees what others miss, and helps you see it too, without the noise.

    From foundations and framing to wiring, ventilation, and drainage, we assess each component in context. Our reports are built not just to flag issues, but to help you make smart, confident decisions about your next move — whether that means requesting repairs, renegotiating, or simply walking away.

    What Makes Green Mnt. Different?

    In a saturated field, it’s not enough to be certified or to carry tools — it’s about how we think. And more importantly, how we serve.

    • We separate defects from data. Every report distinguishes between “nice to know” and “need to act.” No scare tactics. No filler. Just practical, actionable insight.
    • We prioritize clarity over complexity. If you can’t understand your inspection report, it’s not serving you. We write with one goal: make the invisible visible — and simple.
    • We show up like you matter. Because you do. We take the time to answer your questions, walk you through the process, and make sure you feel supported before, during, and after the inspection.
    • We come from a background in building trades, fire safety, and emergency services. That means we’re not just trained to spot issues — we understand risk in a way most inspectors don’t.
    • We follow InterNACHI’s highest standards. This isn’t just a job to us. It’s a responsibility. And we treat it that way.

    Final Thought: Clarity Is the Real Value

    Most homebuyers don’t regret what they knew — they regret what they didn’t. At Green Mnt. Property Inspections, we believe the best investment protection is information — clear, calm, and delivered by someone who works for you.

    Thanks for reading The Inspector’s Notebook. If you found this useful, stick around — we post regular updates on home safety, inspection tips, and ways to stay ahead of costly surprises.

    Your home should give you peace of mind — not uncertainty. Let’s keep it that way.

    Want to schedule an inspection or ask a question?
    Visit greenmountainpropertyinspections.com or reach out directly. We’re here to help — with integrity, precision, and a Vermont work ethic you can count on.