Posts Tagged ‘solar powered lights’
Energy Efficiency In Homes
Building energy efficient homes and improving energy efficiency in our homes can increase their value.
Over the past few years, there has been a ground swell of Green building interest by home buyers and builders. In response to the growing demand to conserve energy in our homes, there are several new mortgage programs that allow home buyers to finance the cost of energy improvements into their mortgage, to increase their loan-to-value, or improve their qualifying ratios. Some of the more common improvements that are used to make homes more energy efficient include the addition of new windows, high efficiency heating/cooling systems, and improved insulation. All of these contribute to reduced energy use, and also to making homes quieter, more comfortable, and more desirable.
Mortgage Programs
These programs allow buyers to purchase a more expensive home that has a lower cost of ownership to offset the larger mortgage payment. There are 2 types of financing options available
that cover a variety of scenarios for energy efficient homes.
? Energy Efficient Mortgages (EEM’s) allow borrowers to qualify for a larger loan, using expanded income ratios, sometimes with the same down payment.
? Energy Improvement Mortgages (EIM’s) allow borrowers to include in the mortgage the cost of making an existing home more energy efficient, when they refinance or purchase the home.
These products are available through your local mortgage brokers and banks using FNMA, FHLMC, FHA, and VA guidelines.
EPACT 2005-2008 provides $2000 Builder Tax Credit
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 established a federal tax credit for builders that apply to each home that exceeds the energy performance threshold outlined in the 2004 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC2004). Eligible homes must be at least 50% more efficient than homes built to the IECC2004. It is fairly easy for builders to achieve this threshold by building tighter homes, installing high-performance insulation, and sealing duct work. The best way for a builder to find out how to meet EPACT is to consult with a certified RESNET (Residential Energy Services Network) Home Energy Rater. In order for a builder to receive a $2000 tax credit, the home must be rated by a RESNET certified rater using IRS approved software. For more information, visit http://www.natresnet.org/taxcredits/default.htm.
What makes a home energy efficient?
The cost of heating and cooling a home represents the largest cost of ownership, outside of the home mortgage expense. Everyone wants a home that is comfortable to live in, and yet the costs associated with reaching a comfortable level can be very high. Energy Efficiency can be defined as the use of products or systems that use less energy to do the same or better job as conventional products. In home construction and performance, there are many areas where energy efficiency can be achieved, to allow you to meet those desired comfort levels.
The EPA’s ENERGY STAR? program has developed a process for evaluating products used in a home, such as appliances, windows, lighting and other products that meet or exceed certain efficiency standards or recommendations. When choosing products for a home, ensure the products meet Energy Star ratings. This can include furnace, air conditioning and water heater performance, replacement of appliances in the home, and installation of energy efficient lighting such as Compact Florescent Lamps (CFL’s).
Other construction design aspects can have a significant impact on the energy performance of a home. Insulation levels should be adequate for the environment, and more importantly, proper installation of the insulation is critical in ensuring it is performing to the expected levels. Air infiltration and leakage can be another area where hidden openings in the building shell can cause heat and cooling losses to occur, reducing the efficiency of the home’s performance.
In addition to performance of individual components in a home, the EPA’s Energy Star Program also works with builders to qualify and certify home performance, to ensure that maximum performance is achieved. ENERGY STAR? qualified homes are designed to be at least 15 percent more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC). ENERGY STAR? qualified homes offer homebuyers all the features they want in a new home, plus energy-efficient improvements that deliver better performance, greater comfort, and lower utility bills.
ENERGY STAR? homes have had their energy efficiency independently verified by an inspector known as a Home Energy rater. A HERS Rater will inspect and test the home during construction, and verify that the home meets EPA’s strict guidelines for energy efficiency.
RESNET; Establishes rules for the energy rating industry
In 1995 RESNET was founded to develop a national market for home energy ratings and energy efficient mortgages. One main goal of RESNET was the development of standards for quality of rating services. The standards set the national procedures for home energy ratings, and include testing and accreditation for raters and providers, development of verification processes for homes meeting ENERGY STAR? and energy efficient building standards, as well as meeting local Energy Code compliance.
A certified HERS Rater follows a prescribed standard for how a home is measured, verified and rated, and must comply with national standards to continue to perform certified ratings.
What is an energy audit or HERS Rating
A Home Energy Rating, performed by a Certified HERS Rater, consists of a full visual analysis of components and aspects of the home, along with energy performance testing of air infiltration with a tool called a blower door. Evaluation of home energy bills can also be included. A blower door slightly de-pressurizes the home and determines the amount of air leakage present. The home is compared to a hypothetical reference home which is based on the IECC 2004, and the home is then provided with a rating. The rating can be a numerical HERS rating or a ’star’ rating based upon ENERGY STAR? requirements.
Along with the actual performance rating, the homeowner will be provided with details on areas of the home that need to be improved, in order to further save energy costs and improve the comfort and efficiency of the home.
Authors: Bruce Czech, Colorado Professional Inspections George Scott, Scott Home Inspection For more information, visit Green Energy Savers
Use Wind Turbines – Save Money And Stop Paying Electricity Bills
What would you do if you could get the electric company to give you money? Well, there are ways to make the electric company and ways that you never have to pay them again. Wind energy is the fastest growing means of alternative energy in the world. Since 2000, the electricity output from wind energy has more than quadrupled. The reason wind energy is popular is because it is clean, efficient, renewable and readily available. Wind turbines have been popping up all over the world. It isn’t just homeowners or regular people trying to find alternative energy, but countries and large organizations. There is a demand and people are turning to wind power as a way to meet the alternative energy needs.
Wind power is an interesting idea. There are people who have been installing wind turbines and then taking themselves “off the grid.” This means they disconnect themselves from the electric company and never deal with them again. No bills, no notes, no phone calls. Nothing.
This sounds like a great idea, but it requires installing wind turbines, which can be costly. However, there are ways to make some money back. In the United States, there are many states that offer tax breaks by using alternative energy. You will save money if you qualify and you will make your money back faster. There are also some states that allow homeowners to sell the extra energy back. These are “net metering laws.” When using the wind turbine, the electricity meter will actually spin backwards. Net metering laws allow homeowners and businesses to be billed only for their net energy consumption as opposed to all of the energy they used.
Net metering helps because customers get full value of the electricity they use. People who use wind turbines might need to use the power company still because wind is intermittent. Over 40 states offer some type of net metering law. Residents should take advantage of these. They can get more information by going to http://www.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/resources/maps/netmetering_map.shtml or contacting the Dept. of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
As more people begin using wind turbines and the technology progresses, the cost of getting and installing wind turbines is decreasing. This is good news for anyone looking to use wind turbines. Now, there are other avenues to pursue when looking for alternative energy.
Worldwide, wind energy only accounts for 1 percent of the electricity use. However, there are countries that have taken a bigger role in using wind as a viable solution to meeting alternative energy needs. Denmark uses wind turbines for 19 percent of its electricity productions, Spain and Portugal use nine percent and Germany and Ireland use six percent.
Wind turbines also help the environment. Over the course of the wind turbine’s lifetime, a residential turbine would be equivalent to planting two trees with the amount of carbon dioxide that would be saved. There are many reasons to get on the wind power bandwagon. They are all worth it. If money is the only thing holding you back, consider all the rebates and benefits you can get from owning a wind turbine. You will make your money back in a few years.
Abhishek is an avid Environmentalist and he has got some great Alternative Fuel Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 70 Pages Ebook, “Energy Conservation And Alternative Fuel” from his website http://www.Wonder-Homes.com/643/index.htm . Only limited Free Copies available.
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Renewable energy solutions
With the world slowly moving to the much-dreaded energy crisis, it is important that we reduce our dependency on non-renewable sources of energy. Non-renewable sources being renewable are about to get extinct. Renewable energy solutions refer to those energy solutions that can keep churning energy without exhausting the resources. Three types of energy solutions fall into the category of renewable energy solutions: solar energy solutions, hydro energy solutions, and wind energy solutions.
Solar energy solutions: The sun?s energy is the most abundant energy available on earth. Make use of this free energy. You can employ solar power solutions at home. This will not only cut down power bills but also help you contribute to a greener world. Solar power solutions comprise of solar cookers, solar heating systems, solar lighting systems, solar dryers etc.
The sun has always been a source of heat energy and light energy. With the advancement of technology, the sun?s energy can be used to create other forms of energy.
The solar energy systems have many advantages apart from being cost-effective and environment-friendly. They are low on maintenance thus saving your time and effort. Also, solar systems give you a return on investment very soon, thus making the systems free after some time. Cooking with solar energy is also considered extremely healthy. Families have started employing solar energy as a power solution at their homes.
Hydro energy solutions: The hydro energy or water energy is an effective renewable energy. One can convert the hydro energy into electrical energy to run vehicles and various electrical appliances. Hydro energy is typically generated on a large scale. It has been estimated that 90 percent of the electrical energy produced by renewable resources is produced solely by hydro power. Dams are built to help generate electricity by tapping the water power.
There have been some concerns about using this energy because it is supposed to adversely affect the water-borne flora and fauna.
Wind energy solutions: Windmills were in existence even in the years before the birth of Christ. They helped tow boats and pump water. Eventually, post-industrialization, they became a source for generating electricity.
Windmills and wind turbines have never been pass?. Wind energy can help generate tonnes of megawatts of electricity. When employed at individual estates, it can help do away with conventional power sources. An excellent renewable source of energy, the wind energy will go a long way in promising a good future to generations to come.
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