For the past month, our vice president of solar & energy efficiency sales, Michael Smith, provided a wealth of resources for homeowners that are interested in using energy more efficiently around the house. In case you missed any of them or if you’re interested in having the information all in one place, below please see a summary of what was posted throughout the month.
Qualifications for energy-efficiency grants
For businesses and inventors, there’s a bit more opportunity. If you’ve invented or can advance an energy-efficiency technology, we suggest you look into the DOE grant administered by the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE). The EERE works with various types of institutions to increase the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. The US Department of Agriculture also offers grants to agriculture producers and rural small businesses. Also, check out a full list of federal grant opportunities at www.grants.gov.
Financing a green lifestyle: Finding mortgage and home-improvement loans
According to the EnergySavers website, there are two different types of mortgages that are available through a government-insured or conventional loan program:
- Energy-efficient mortgages assist those buying new, already-efficient homes. This type of loan allows borrowers to qualify for larger loan amounts and potentially a better, more efficient home.
- Energy-improvement mortgages assist those who wish to purchase or refinance a home that isn’t currently energy efficient. Borrowers will likely carry a slightly higher mortgage payment, due to the energy-improvement costs, but would potentially be erased by lower ongoing energy costs.
Please note that you will need to have an energy rating performed on your new or existing home to qualify for the above financing programs. This evaluation will analyze your home and provide a rating to lenders, which will demonstrate how energy efficient your home is when compared with similar homes.
For an updated list of additional financing opportunities that are available in your community, visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency.
Financing a green lifestyle: Navigating the tax-credit labyrinth
A complete list of products that grant you energy credit eligibility, through 2016, can be found at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) EnergySavers website. These products must be installed in your home by 12/31/16, with the exception of geothermal pumps. You can get a tax credit for plug-in electric cars as long as you’re one of the first 200,000 vehicle owners. It’s also worth noting that you can only claim a tax credit once and would apply to the year that you purchased the eligible product. Additionally, if you installed new heating and AC systems, insulation, a new roof, and windows in ’09 and/or ’10, but didn’t take the tax credit for those upgrades, you may have missed out on up to 30% of what you spent. Our advice is to amend your tax filings now. Usually, you’ll be able to go back up to three years. For more information, you can check out the IRS website or consult your tax accountant for the proper forms.
For a complete list of tax incentives in your community, you should visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency.
Energy efficiency on the road
- Drive sensibly: Rapid acceleration and hard braking can increase fuel usage by up to 33% on highways and 5% around town. To save fuel, accelerate slowly and get into high gear as soon as possible.
- Note posted speeds: Mileage typically decreases quickly at speeds above 50 mph.
- Avoid excessive idling: Idling can burn a quarter to a half-gallon of fuel/hr. When parked, turn off your engine to save fuel.
- Remove excessive weight: Every extra 100 lbs could reduce your mpg by up to 2%.
- Use the right fuel: Premium fuels aren’t designed for every car. Many cars function better on regular, low-octane gas.
- Regularly service your vehicle: Poorly tuned engines can use up to 50% more fuel. Also, mind the amount of air pressure in your tires. By having the correct air pressure, your tires wear longer, save fuel, enhance handling, and prevent accidents.
Learn more on this topic at www.fueleconomy.gov.
Summer home energy efficiency tips
Additionally, we recommend utilizing the following simple, low-cost techniques:
- Cook with the microwave: It takes two-thirds less energy than your stove.
- Open windows at night: If you live in a safe, cool area, then allow Mother Nature to cool your home and save your AC usage. In the morning, close the windows, drapes, and blinds to capture that cool air. If using venetian blinds, angle them upwards in order to reflect the light upwards.
- Only use ceiling fans when you’re in the room: Ceiling fans efficiently cool-off people, but not rooms.
- Use the “sleep” feature on your computer, scanner, fax, and printer: Or, create a power station on a power strip for your chargeable electronics. Turn off the strip when it’s not in use.
- Use the bathroom fan when showering: This will remove the heat and humidity. A laundry room is also a great place for spot ventilation.
Other quick energy saving tips: line-dry your clothing, only run the dishwasher when full, take short showers and eliminate baths.
What it means to be energy efficient