Energy efficiency is on the minds of American home buyers more and more these days. A survey conducted by the National Association of Home Builders earlier this year reflects that sentiment, where 94 percent of respondents said they want houses with energy-star appliances, 91 percent stated said they want energy-star rated buildings and 89 percent said they were looking for residences with energy-star approved windows.

In other words, energy efficient homes have never been more in demand than they are today. The reasons why are fairly clear:

• They're budget-friendly: Energy efficient home features help result in cheaper utility bills, which can add up to some significant savings over the long run.
• They're environmentally-friendly: Homes that consume less energy, and use what power they have efficiently, produce fewer carbon dioxide emissions, which harm the environment and contribute to climate change.

According to US News & World Report, buyers will be getting even more options for eco-friendly dwellings, with newly-built houses designed to be more efficient than their older counterparts. But more than that, home remodeling has proven to be a major source of energy efficient residences on the market, with increasing numbers of homeowners becoming aware of not just going green but how to make their properties reach that level of efficiency.

For those living in Virginia, the solution is a simple: Schedule an appointment for a home inspection. With help from qualified and local Virginia home inspectors, you can identify the ways in which your home may be leaking or wasting energy, and from there learn what it would take to patch up these trouble spots. The results of an energy audit like this can go a long way in making any home more environmentally-conscious, not to mention cheaper to keep the heating and lights on.