FREE Home Energy Assessment!
GC Green is a local company who specializes in providing energy assessments of your home and will make recommendations on upgrades that will improve energy efficiency and cost savings! They also can provide you with incentives and programs that can help you pay for these upgrades! Contact Rick Halperin at 619-204-2809 or email at rick@gcgreen.com. You can visit their web site at http://www.gcgreen.com/.
Renovation Financing!
There are lenders who specialize in providing financing to help with improvements that will improve energy efficiency. Whether you are purchasing a new home or refinancing your existing home, you might consider taking advantage of some financing that help you pay for improvement costs! Contact Dennis Fontes from Go Green Lending at 562-505-3668 or email dennis@gogreenlending.com Ask about these loan programs:
- FHA 203k Renovation Loan: provides up to 35k for improvements
- Energy Efficient Mortgage: This mortgage allows you to stretch your debt to income ratio to cover energy efficient improvements in your loan, while ensuring the improvements pay for the increased payment amount for that loan. Check out the Energy Star web site for more information Energy Star - EEM
How much cheaper are CFL's than Incandescents?
Check out the comparison chart between CFL's and Incandescent light bulbs. This is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to save money on your energy bill. The CFL's have improved a lot. There are different types of lights available such as cool versus warm lighting. They are also doing a better job at making the bulb more appealing such as the ones used for recessed cans. Remember the higher the number, the warmer the light will be!
Table 2. Cost Comparisons between CFLs and Incandescents
| 25-Watt Compact Fluorescent | 100-Watt Incandescent |
| Cost of Lamps | $3.40 | $.60 |
| Lamp Life | 1667 days (4.5years) | 167 days |
| Annual Energy Cost | $6.00 | $25 |
| Lamps Replaced in 4.5 years | 0 | 10 |
| Total cost | $29 | $134 |
| Savings Over Lamp Life | $105 | 0 |
Source: Life Cycle Cost Estimate for ENERGY STAR Qualified Compact Fluorescent Lamp(s)
Low-Cost Ways to Address Green Potential in Your Home
According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) Green Designation Core Course, the following are low-cost ways you can address your home's Green Potential!
- Use CFL or LED light bulbs
- Install low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators
- Start a compost pile
- Plant trees
- Insulate hot water heater
- Weatherstrip and caulk doors and windows
- Collect rainwater to water plants
- Paint with low or no VC paint
- Replace heater filters
- Install a programmable thermostat
- Plant a rain garden
- Plant native plants
- Place appliances or office equipment on powerstrips to reduce "phantom" load'
- Install motion sensors in offices and other common areas to turn off lights when not in use
- Install efficient restroom fixtures
- Take advantage of day light
- Provide recycling bins
No comments:
Post a Comment