Ralph
Saving the planet and our kid’s future one quart at a time.
www.greeniscalling.com
]]>About a year ago the writer of this article in the “BusinessWeek”
Will Demand for Solar Homes Pick Up?
….The appeal of solar homes could grow as the economic outlook worsens. The more utility bills cut into household reserves, “the more consumers recognize the value of efficiency,” says Robert W. Hammon,… And there’s growing consumer awareness that solar homes appreciate faster than ordinary dwellings. They also resell for a premium of up to 5%.
probably was quite conservative on the percentile.
Article here: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_44/b4106088155598.htm
]]>New Jersey, California doing their part, but other states are dragging their feet
BY JOE TYRRELL
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
SECOND IN A SERIES
As the United States casts around for clean, domestic sources of energy, New Jersey has become a national leader in solar power, surpassing states with far greater land area and more days of sunshine.
But being a leader in solar energy in America is a little like being the fastest Model T Ford or the best sounding gramophone: the world has moved on.
The whole story hear: http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/science-updates/do-not-post-us-is-no-longer-the-leader-in-solar-power
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Radiant Barrier is a Double-Sided, Tear-Resistant, ENERGY STAR® Qualified, Class A/Class 1 Fire-Rated, Clean and Non-Toxic Aluminum Radiant Barrier
Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
The “Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008″ extended the tax credits for energy efficient home improvements which expired in 2007. Federal tax credits will be given for qualifing improvements made during 2009.
The Energy Tax Incentives Act of 2005
The Energy Tax Incentives Act of 2005 Section 25C allows for tax credits on energy upgrades including insulation products when purchased in 2006 or 2007.
• Residential customers can receive a tax credit of 10% of the cost of material when you purchase radiant barrier in 2006 or 2007 for use in your residence. The maximum cumulative amount you can receive for 2006 and 2007 is $500. The residential applications that qualify for this credit are attics, walls, and crawl spaces.
• Commercial businesses can receive a tax credit of 30% of the cost of material when they purchase radiant barrier in 2006 or 2007 for use in a commercial building.
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Quarter Billion Dollars in Annual Utility Savings for Energy Efficient Homes
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that nearly 17 percent of all single-family homes built nationally in 2008 earned EPA’s Energy Star label, up from 12 percent in 2007. Both home builders and home buyers are continuing to invest in high performing homes that save consumers money on their utility bills and help protect the environment.
“Every year more Americans decide to cut their energy bills and help keep the air clean in their communities by buying a new home that has earned EPA’s Energy Star. Features like properly installed insulation, high-performance windows and high efficiency heating and cooling can reduce home energy needs by 20 to 30 percent, saving American families thousands of dollars on their utility bills,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “Even in a difficult market, the interest in Energy Star qualified homes keeps rising. We’re helping builders and homebuyers to protect the environment, safeguard our health, and move the country into a low-carbon energy future.”In addition, market share for Energy Star qualified homes was 20 percent or greater in 15 states in 2008, including Ariz., Colo., Conn., Hawaii, Iowa, Ky., Nev., N.H., N.J., N.Y., Ohio, Okla., Texas, Utah, and Vt.
Nearly 940,000 Energy Star qualified homes have been built to date, with more than 100,000 of these constructed in 2008. In 2008 alone, American families living in Energy Star qualified homes locked in annual utility bill savings of more than $250 million — saving over 1.5 billion kWh of electricity and 155 million therms of natural gas while reducing the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of nearly 350,000 cars annually.
To earn the Energy Star label, homes must meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency set by EPA. Typically they include energy-saving features such as:
• Effective Insulation Systems
• High-Performance Windows
• Tight Construction and Ducts
• Efficient Heating and Cooling Equipment
• ENERGY STAR Qualified Lighting and AppliancesMore information about Energy Star qualified homes: http://www.energystar.gov/HomesMarketIndex
I am afraid the anwser to all the above questions is going to be NO,
…ouch that is bad…
please check out this site: http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/Utilities/WaterSmart/conservationlinks.htm
or type in this address in your browser today: http://www.cleangreen789.com it is a great free E-Book no “pipes” attachted 
In Greensboro-High Point, NC on:
WGHP FOX-TV
Fox 8 Morning News
8:10 AM ET
Please tune in, thanks!
for more info on how to turn back your meter follow
http://www.turnback789.com, and sign up it is totally FREE and no strings attached.
Federal Recovery Act Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant funds will be distributed directly to
designated North Carolina cities, counties and tribes as follows
http://www.energync.net/resources/docs/press/blockgrantplansubmitted062609.pdf
]]>This is an excerpt of the article that is posted here:
Check out this Wall Street Journal article about the city of Austin, Texas requiring home owners to conduct home energy audits prior to selling homes that are more than ten year old. This is certainly an interesting topic of conversation for home owners and Realtors. There are a lot of pros and cons for this law, and I could discuss them all day long. I am not sure yet what my stance is, but I do know that in Middle Tennessee, termite letters are required and are often paid for by the seller. So why not an energy audit?
http://www.nashvillegreenhome.com/2009/06/if-they-can-do-it-why-not-nashville.html
It is amazing to find this as a motivation to get more energy awareness!
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