Thinking of a home renovation? Be sure to consider these tips for what home buyers will be looking for a home 5 to 10 years from now. Otherwise, when time comes for you to sell, you may be left with a heap nobody wants.

According to the U.S Census Bureau, the median age of an American home is 36 years and like many homeowners, you should also find yourself in the midst of house “future-proofing” so it does not become an outdated edifice amidst fast-changing new building science and static home-sales market.

New Regulations, such as California’s recent move to reduce formaldehyde emission from composite wood products such as those used in most Californian kitchen cabinets is a great upgrade for your house renovation project. Turning green is helpful too, though back then, “energy efficiency” and “green” building were still environmentalists’ lingo and housing prices seemed likely to only go up.

“5 or 10 years ago, people did not wonder, What can we do to insulate or what sort of lighting to use to save energy?’” says Gary Drake, owner of Los Angeles-based Drake Contractors Inc. “It was more like, ‘Why am I spending all this money on insulation?’”

Now Drake said that almost a quarter million of remodeling clients are requesting for energy efficient lighting, appliances as well as paints and cabinetry made with less volatile organic compound or VOC which are solvents that can cause environmental and health problems.

Here are five home remodeling “future proofing” tips that experts recommend to ride in the new trend in 2^nd -3^rd generation home-sale market.

1. Consider a tankless water heater or going solar

Tankless hot-water heaters fire up only when you turn on the hot water tap. As water runs through the heater, it is warmed instantly. Such appliances are considered to be more efficient than a standard water heater tanks which continually consume energy to heat and store water you do not use most of the day.

Hawaii is beginning to mandate tankless water heaters in new homes. Residents who have installed solar water-heating system in the US can qualify for a 30% federal tax credit, while tankless hot water heaters can earn up to $1,500 federal credit and some state incentives too.

2. Upgrade your home’s insulation

Today there are multiple forms of home insulation; many promoted as “green,” including soy-based foams, denim and loose-fill cellulose (recycled newspapers). You should use the highest R-value or thermal resistance- the bigger the number the better the insulation.

3. Use formaldehyde-free kitchen Cabinets

Inquire whether the material used for your kitchen cabinets has urea formaldehyde which is used in adhesives of certain pressed-wood products. WHO and National Cancer Institute recommend that “buyers should ask about the formaldehyde content of such products” Formaldehyde is considered to be the human carcinogen.

4. Use low or no VOC paint and finishes

Products that contain low or no-VOC paints and finishes are healthier for your family while painting is going on. VOCs are solvents that disperse into the air as paint dries and is responsible for that new-paint smell. VOC can contribute to smog as well as kidney and liver damage, respiratory and memory problems particularly in children.

Spending a bit more on such upgrades can pay off immediately in terms of energy saving and a higher resale price. In fact, according to study, most 2^nd or 3^rd generation homebuyers are willing to pay a premium of $20,000 or more for a green home.