Fall in Love With a More Efficient Home This February

February is all about what we care about most — comfort, stability, and planning for the future. When it comes to homeownership, one thing that deserves a little extra love this month is how efficiently your home works for you.

A more energy-efficient home isn’t just about being environmentally friendly. It can lower monthly expenses, improve everyday comfort, and even support your long-term home value — all things that matter whether you’re buying, selling, or refinancing.

Why Energy Efficiency Matters for Your Mortgage

Your home’s efficiency plays a quiet but important role in affordability. Utility bills don’t stop in winter, and the average household spends around $2,700 per year on energy — more than $225 every month.1

Improving efficiency can help:

• Lower monthly costs

• Increase comfort

• Support long-term value

When you’re thinking about your mortgage payment, every dollar saved on utilities can help make homeownership feel more manageable.

What’s Being Measured (and Why It Matters)

Energy efficiency looks at how well your home is built and how it uses energy — including insulation, windows, heating and cooling systems, and hot water. These features affect how warm your home feels in winter, how hard your systems have to work, and how much you pay each month to keep things comfortable.

The Department of Energy created a standardized way to evaluate these factors so homeowners and buyers can better understand a home’s performance — without focusing on personal habits or day-to-day usage.

How Efficiency Benefits Every Stage of Homeownership

1. Buying a Home

Lower energy costs mean more predictable monthly expenses. Some buyers may also qualify for financing options that allow energy improvements to be included in their mortgage, helping make the home more affordable from the start.

2. Selling a Home

Homes with lower energy costs can be more appealing to buyers. Sharing efficiency information and utility averages can help buyers feel more confident and may support stronger offers.

3. Owning or Refinancing

For current homeowners, efficiency upgrades can improve comfort now and help protect long-term value. Lower monthly expenses can also strengthen your overall financial picture if you’re considering refinancing.

Small Improvements, Long-Term Love

Many energy upgrades offer immediate savings and long-term benefits. Insulation improvements, system upgrades, and sealing air leaks can make your home feel more comfortable right away — while also investing in future value.

February is a great time to start planning improvements before spring buying and selling season begins.

The February Takeaway

A home that works efficiently is a home that supports your goals — financially and emotionally. This month, show your home (and your budget) a little love by understanding how efficiency fits into your bigger mortgage picture. Ready to love your monthly payment a little more?

Sources: (1) Home Energy Club, “Average Utility Bills by State (2025 Update),” September 10, 2025.