You do not need to be thinking of Buying or Selling to think Green- here are some tips to maximize efficiency in your own home:

• Turn off lights, televisions and computers when they’re not in use. For media centers, consider using a power bar and using its on/off switch as oftentimes TVs are not completely shut down but just hibernating.
• Seal all leaks around doors, windows and cracks where head escapes from your home. You can save up to 20% on your heating bill by doing so.
• Lower the temperature of your home by five degrees at night and during the day when no one is home. For forced air heating systems, a digital thermostat with programmable settings is an easy solution. For baseboard heated homes, consider a digital thermostat in the largest or principal rooms (the units can get pricey if you need more than 3). Doing so can cut your heating costs by 10% and reduce your household emissions by 0.5 tonne.
• Use energy efficient lighting, such as compact fluorescent bulbs. They last up to 10 times longer and use 75% less energy than regular bulbs. Don’t forget to recycle them when done (Home Depot accepts them) as they contain traces of mercury.
• Re-insulate when you renovate. In the long run, a small up-front cost can pay for itself several times over in energy savings.
• Review the EnerGuide label when buying new household appliances. The label will help you choose an energy-efficient model that meets your needs.
• Clean your furnace filter regularly and keep the furnace properly tuned. A well maintained furnace uses 10-15% less energy.
• Fix leaky faucets immediately. At 1 drop per second, a single leaky washer wastes the equivalent of 16 hot baths each month.
• Switch to water conserving 2 mode toilets. While not the most glamorous appliance in the house, these units conserve as much as 50% water compared to their traditional counterparts.
• Install low-flow showerheads, which use up to 60% less water than conventional showers. By the way, the designs have improved over the years so you don’t have to worry about having ‘Kramer hair’ (as seen on the infamous Seinfeld episode)!