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Energy Efficient Mortgages

Thursday, April 1st, 2010

An energy efficient mortgage acknowledges that homes that are energy efficient generally cost homeowners less to maintain on a monthly basis as oppose to other standard homes. Buying a energy efficient home allows a homebuyer to be able to spend money on other items for the house because their energy bills will be reduced. Energy Efficient Mortgages (EMM) allows borrowers to take out bigger mortgages because their monthly energy expenses on a energy efficient home won’t be as expensive meaning that they will most likely be able to pay the loan off faster. With a EEM you can also take a standard home and make it energy efficient.

How can a EEM benefit a borrower?

There are several ways a borrower can benefit by taking out an EEM. Well, first the borrower’s income and the estimated energy savings are analyzed allowing the borrower to qualify for a larger mortgage loan. Also the borrower’s buying power is increased permitting the borrower to include the total cost of any energy improvements into the total mortgage loan amount. Then because of the energy improvements the house value is increased.

Can Your Home Qualify for A EEM?

Energy Efficient Mortgages can be used for newly constructed homes. Your home must be a single-family, a owner occupied residential , a one unit house or a condominium in order to qualify for a EEM. Before you can take out a EEM you must first have a RESNET report evaluation. The RESNET report determines your home energy efficiency in it’s current state. After a RESNET report is done then you will receive a energy home rating.

A energy home rating measures your home energy efficiency. A home energy rater that’s accredited by the RESNET rating system will conduct a home inspection. They will look at things like your home heating and cooling system, window to wall ratios and insulation levels just to mention a few. Then you will receive a energy rating score between 1 to 100.

If your home is not energy efficient and you want to take out a EEM the rating report will suggest cost effective methods to improve your home’s energy performance, an estimation of how much you could be saving if these improvements were made. You will be able to include the cost of such improvements in the loan.

So if you are looking to purchase a home or refinance one it’s cost effective if you take out a Energy Efficient Mortgage. This allows you to cut back on your monthly energy expenses and allowing you to pay off your mortgage better. Consider it.

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How to make your house eco-friendly

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

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Solar Home Renovation

Monday, December 28th, 2009

Solar Panels

Finding the right house is the first and most important step of this endeavor. The lot and neighborhood cannot be changed, so pick the land and location carefully. A simple house on an excellent lot is the best choice for this type of project, and good solar exposure is crucial if a passive solar design is in your plans. Most subdivisions have a set of rules that determine the size and lot setbacks for remodeling, so do the necessary planning, before the final purchase.

Designing a Successful Remodeling Project Requires Patience and Careful Planning.

The size of new room additions can be more easily imagined if you mark them out on the ground and experiment with furniture. Sitting in an imagined room and admiring the view is a very enjoyable and productive method of planning a design.

If the remodel involves adding windows or doors, their position should be marked with masking tape, and carefully viewed for at least a few days. Pay particular attention to the best views and the position of the sun.

Home Insulation Tips

Friday, December 18th, 2009

It’s no surprise that keeping your home properly insulated will help keep you warmer in the winter, cooler in the summer, and help save on energy bills. Whether your house is old or new, all homes could stand to undergo an insulation evaluation. Older homes may not be properly insulated and up to today’s standards, and therefore need an upgrade. Many newer homes may not have adequate insulation because builders, by saving costs, may not have paid heed to energy conservation, or local building codes weren’t yet up to date with the US Department of Energy requirements, so only the minimal amount of insulation was used. You can have an energy check performed on your home by contacting your local utility company and ask about getting an “energy audit” in order to tell if your home needs insulation improvement.

Home insulation comes in various forms. The most common type is blankets or batts. They are filled with either fiberglass or rock wood fibers. Blankets come in continuous rolls and batts come in pre-cut strips. Batts and blankets are popularly used by self-installers. Other types of insulation are loose-fill insulation, blown-in, plastic foam, rigid foam boards, and reflective insulation. Reflective insulation is used mostly in hot climates and is made with aluminum foil to reflect off radiant heat.

All insulation is rated by the R-value. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation material insulates. You can find out the appropriate amount of insulation requirements in your area by logging onto the U.S. Department of Energy’s website at www.energy.gov, and entering your zip code.

Your attic is the most important place for proper insulation in your home because it is the biggest source of heat loss. It is also important for walls to be properly insulated. Here are some other tips to keep spaces in your home well insulated and help to save on energy costs:

1. Use expansion foam to fill in small spaces where insulation may not fill properly, such as exterior openings where plumbing pipes enter the house, openings used for electricity, cable and internet lines, and behind and around electric switch plates.

2. Use weatherstripping around doors and windows, and seal up any cracks and crevices on the exterior structure of your home.

3. Insulate your basement and any crawl spaces.

4. Use curtains and blinds to their advantage. Thick curtains or curtains with insulated backing help keep your house warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. Thick blinds can also have the same effect.  

Posted in Energy Efficiency, Home Maintenance & Repair | No Comments »

Energy Management for Your Home

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

Energy Efficient Windows

Efficient energy management at home can go a long way in helping your budget and also the environment. There are several steps you can take to eliminate wastage and use energy efficiently to do all your chores or work.

The Importance of Insulation

A properly insulated home can save about 30 percent on energy costs in most homes. Windows and doors must be air-tight to prevent cold drafts and inconsistent heating across the home. A well-insulated home retains heat better and prevents cold air from entering during the winter. A home must also be well-ventilated in order to reduce cooling costs during the summer.

Reducing Costs on Heating and Cooling

A majority of the energy costs in most homes is due to heaters and air conditioners. There is a lot we can do to reduce these costs and also save the environment by reducing emissions. In the winter, set the thermostat at a comfortable level and avoid changing the setting. Setting the thermostat too high does not have any effective results on the heating of a home, but will definitely cost you much more.

In the summer, use air conditioning to a minimum. Use other alternatives such as fans. A whole house fan installed in the attic can remove most of the hot air in a home, while bringing in cooler air from outside. These appliances are much cheaper and energy friendlier than air conditioners. Use curtains and blinds to keep the heat in during winter, and sunlight out during the summer.

Green Bathroom Remodel Ideas

Tuesday, November 10th, 2009

When remodeling your bathroom, consider “Green” options that will help your bathroom become more energy efficient, less harmful to the environment, and preserve natural resource materials.

One of the biggest wastes in a bathroom is water. Select fixtures that help minimize water use. A dual-flush toilet saves water usage by having one flush for water waste and another flush for solid waste. It takes less water to flush down liquid waste than it does for solids. Use faucets and shower heads that conserve water as well. Replace your old faucet with a faucet that has a self-closing tap that shuts off the water when you release the button. This conserves water while you are shaving or brushing your teeth, as well as prevents leaks. Use a low-flow shower head in your shower. It drastically cuts back on the amount of water per minute used compared to an ordinary shower head. To save even more water use an air shower device. It is attached to your existing shower head and can save water usage by an additional 30%. It pumps each water droplet full of air, which makes each water droplet bigger yet still feels just as strong and wet as typical water spray from a regular shower head.

Consider a tank-less or a solar water heater. They may be a bit more expensive to install initially, but in the long run they save you a bundle on utility bills, as well as conserve power and water.

Use energy-efficient lighting in your bathroom. Fluorescent lighting uses a lot less energy than incandescent lighting. You can soften or brighten the light by using dimmer switches, adjusting the level of brightness for your comport level.

When choosing tiles for you bathroom make-over, envision recycled ceramic, glass, or porcelain tiles for your walls, counter tops, and flooring. They come in a wide array of styles and colors, and you have the satisfaction of knowing that you will be helping the environment and saving energy. Every glass bottle that is recycled actually saves enough energy to operate a 100-watt light bulb for approximately four hours.

Going green in your bathroom gratifies your conscience, saves money and the environment, and offers a splendid re-sale advantage to boot.

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Thinking solar power? It’s never been cheaper

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

The government has plowed so much cash into the solar industry that it’s effectively pulled the luxury tag off of home solar systems. Combined with local incentives, buyers can save up to 90 percent on a system, whether it’s for a single-family home or a 75-unit condo in the city.

Thousands of homeowners are finding they can pay off a rooftop solar system in just a few years and then start pocketing the energy savings.

Solar power has been getting cheaper for years. Panel prices declined 31 percent from 1998 to 2008 because of lower manufacturing and installation costs and state and local subsidies, according to a study released Wednesday by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. But it still took a ramp up in federal incentives this year to bring the cost within many people’s reach.

More than half the states in the U.S. and Washington D.C. offer enough incentives to cut the costs by 40 percent or more, according to Amy Heinemann, a policy analyst at the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency.

How much you’ll spend depends on where you live.

Are Your Windows Energy Efficient?

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

Energy Efficient Windows

Windows are obviously a requirement for every house. They allow sunlight into your home and give you a view of the scenery outside. However, if your windows are not of an efficient design, they can be a reason for a steady loss of heat or can bring down your homes internal temperature significantly. Making sure that your windows are up to date and energy efficient should be one of your top priorities while remodeling your home.

If you have an older home with older windows, chances are your windows have been increasing your heating costs without your knowledge. Newer windows that have been classified as energy star certified help retain and repel severe heat and cold to help maintain a balanced home temperature. The type of glass used in new windows is what makes this efficiency possible. Low-e or low emissions glass is one of the best types of glass for efficient window insulation. They have very thin layers of oxides and also repel infra red radiations from the sun and stop their heating effect.

Specially coated windows also prevent cold waves from passing inside. A constant exposure to strong sun rays may be harmful to your home’s interior. Using more than one layer of glass with inert gases in between also provide better resistance to heat transfer than a single pane of glass. These gases are unaffected by temperature changes caused by climatic changes. The spacing between individual panes should be created in a controlled way to prevent the formation of moisture inside. Windows should not be built using any kind of metal if they need to be energy efficient. Metals are great conductors and would easily let the cold or heat from outside to seep in. Well designed wood or fiber glass are better options as they would add a classy look to your room apart from keeping it from getting chilly.

The energy star rating for windows is an approval by the government declaring its efficiency. These vary from state to state and you’ll need to check their qualification before purchase. Visual Transmission, Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, U-Value and Air Leakage are some of the specifications to check before deciding whether or not it would work for you.

Energy efficient windows save enough money in a few years to make up for their initial costs. If you have cold weather penetrating through your home windows it might be time to consider an upgrade.

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Cork Flooring

Monday, November 2nd, 2009

Cork! When most people hear that word a pop sound enters their minds as champagne spurts out of a bottle. Or a smaller pop thumps their brains when their favorite red wine is uncorked. But, as more wine bottles are shedding their natural cork stoppers in favor of more economical twist-offs and silicon plugs, more floors are being covered with cork as an economical alternative to wood and tile flooring.

Cork serves a world of good under your feet. Cork comprises a unique galaxy of flooring with it’s own benefits and qualities superior to other styles of flooring. First, cork flooring is less expensive than hard wood flooring and is just as beautiful. Like hardwood flooring, it can ad re-sell value to your home and is appealing to home buyers. Cork flooring is also great for noise reduction. Cork is such a soft material, it cuts down on the noise factor under your feet, making it a superb choice not just for your home, but also for apartments and condominiums. Another perk is that cork is a great insulator, helping you save on energy costs.

Cork flooring is also extremely comfortable under your feet. It is a smart choice for people with achy body parts, the elderly, and romping kids. Cork flooring has health benefits as well. It is naturally hypo-allergenic, waterproof, and resistant to the growth of mold and mildew.

Installing cork flooring is a “Green” thing to do. This might cause your friends and neighbors to become green with envy. Cork is obtained from the bark of the Cork Oak tree. Cork Oak trees are unique in the fact that stripping their bark away does not kill them. They continue to flourish and about every ten years the bark can be utilized again. Cork Oak trees are able to survive up to 200 years.

And let’s not forget about style. As there are a plethora of flavors and hues to choose from in the world of wine, there is a vast variety of styles and shades to explore in the realm of cork to complement your lifestyle and your living space. Cork ground covering is an art form all of it’s own from nature’s pallette. It is available in a variety of textures, patterns, hues and variations to enhance any living environment for years to come.

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Landscaping to Insulate Your Home

Friday, October 30th, 2009

A well planned house needs to have a lot of features, one of those being energy efficiency. If you live in a cold climate, heating costs will form a significant portion of your bill every month. Applying some intelligent ideas to landscape your home and insulate it can bring down those costs. Even though there are some initial costs involved in landscaping, the investment will pay off within a few years. If you bought your home and plan on staying there for a long time, make sure to implement some of the landscaping ideas mentioned here.

An appropriate arrangement of trees and shrubs around your house protects your house from both cold and heat. You will need to identify which strategy is most suitable for your property. The term microclimate is an important term when it comes to home insulation. It is defined as the climate which exists just around your immediate location. The microclimate, the kind of land where you reside and the general climate variations help in deciding which types of trees and plants will work best.

If there are a lot of buildings and structures around your home you may not be required to have trees in every direction. The exposure to sunrays and winds may not be uniformly the same in all directions of the house. The landscape design for houses with a close proximity to the sea or other water bodies will be different than those which are surrounded by hills. Someone living in a tropical climate will be benefited if large trees surround the house and provide shade. Deciduous trees work best for both seasons in such cases. They shed their leaves in the winter. This allows sunlight to reach the house between its branches during the cold season.Windy areas require trees with thick foliage to be a part of the landscaping plan. A series of bushes and evergreen trees, when planted on the northern part of your house can act as effective windbreakers. Make sure to have kept some space between the house and the shrubs. This will let pockets of air to form in them which will add an extra layer of insulation.

Now that you know some basic ways to insulate your home using landscaping techniques, chalk out a plan and save money.

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