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Recently, I completely a radio media tour on behalf of my client , the free-to-use home improvement contractor referral service. I’ve been the site’s personal finance expert since 2013, and a customer in real life since 2000. The topic of these radio interviews was about the benefits of reinvesting a tax refund in your home.

The reason we’re bringing this up now is two fold. First, April 15 is right around the corner. And second, the IRS says the average 2014 tax refund is $3,116, based on the 48.3 million tax returns filed. I believe that investing the refund in a mid-range home improvement project can increase a home’s value and possibly qualify you for a tax credit the next year.

Here are five renovations you may want to use your refund on:

• Replace the garage door: Installing a new garage door can increase the value of the house, improve curbside appeal and decrease energy costs. According to HomeAdvisor’s , the average cost nationally of is $1,128.

• Install egress windows: Adding an egress window to a room such as a basement not only provides a safe escape route in case of a fire, but also increases the number of rooms available to be converted to bedrooms.  Installing egress windows can increase a home’s value, safety and natural lighting.

• Add new insulation: Investing in new insulation can decrease the amount homeowners spend on energy costs. On average, 50-70 percent of a homeowner’s energy bill is spent on heating and air conditioning costs, according to the Department of Energy. The average cost nationally of installing insulation is $1,606, according to HomeAdvisor’s Cost Guide.

•Install a steel entry door: A steel entry door is inexpensive to install, durable, fire resistant and doesn’t need ongoing maintenance. A steel door can be painted any color or design. According to HomeAdvisor’s Cost Guide, the average cost nationally of installing a new door is $1,105.

•Paint the exterior of the house: Painting the exterior of a house is one of the simplest ways to improve the look of a house, as well as give it a fresh design with a new color. The average cost nationally of painting the exterior of a house is $2,900 according to HomeAdvisor’s Cost Guide.

As far as those tax credits go, the IRS says that you may be able to reduce your taxes if you made certain last year. Here are some key facts that you should know about home energy tax credits.

Non-Business Energy Property Credit 

• This credit is worth 10 percent of the cost of certain qualified energy-saving items you added to your main home last year. This includes items such as insulation, windows, doors and roofs.
• You may also be able to claim the credit for the actual cost of certain property. This may include items such as water heaters and heating and air conditioning systems. Each type of property has a different dollar limit.
• This credit has a maximum lifetime limit of $500. You may only use $200 of this limit for windows.
• Your main home must be located in the U.S. to qualify for the credit.
• Be sure you have the written certification from the manufacturer that their product qualifies for this tax credit. They usually post it on their website or include it with the product’s packaging. You can rely on it to claim the credit, but do not attach it to your return. Keep it with your tax records.
• This credit expired at the end of 2013. You may still claim the credit on your 2013 tax return if you didn’t reach the lifetime limit in prior years.

Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit

• This tax credit is 30 percent of the cost of alternative energy equipment installed on or in your home.
• Qualified equipment includes solar hot water heaters, solar electric equipment and wind turbines.
• There is no dollar limit on the credit for most types of property. If your credit is more than the tax you owe, you can carry forward the unused portion of this credit to next year’s tax return.
• The home must be in the U.S. It does not have to be your main home.
• This credit is available through 2016.