See homes near you powered by the Sun at the Utah Solar Tour 2010 on Saturday, September 25 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

What:  Utah Solar Tour 2010
When: Saturday, September 25th from 10:00am to 4:00pm at sites throughout Utah
Information:  Visit http://utsolar.org/index.php/solar_tour/overview/ to learn more about the Utah Solar Tour 2010 and see maps of tour sites to find sites in your area
Cost: No cost, it’s FREE!!!

The Utah Solar Tour 2010 is a perfect opportunity to bring your family and learn about the exciting developments in renewable energy.  Come see how your neighbors, friends, and fellow Utahns are using renewable energy to cut their energy bills and become more self-reliant by producing their own power!  You will have the chance to visit homes and businesses using renewable energy and learn about how it works, how much it costs, how much money it saves, and much more.

Receive up to $2,000 with this program which has just been made available to Utah residents. If you’ve been wanting to make your home more energy efficient in order to save money heating and/or cooling your home – or if you just want your home to be more comfortable, now is the time to get the work done.

The program will cover up to 80% of the energy-efficient home improvements, according to the program manager, Jason Berry (the program is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and administered by the Utah State Energy Program).

If you’re planning to stay in your home for years to come, energy-wise retrofits could save you hundreds over the years. Even if you plan to sell in the near future, making changes now could actually increase the value of your home to prospective buyers (especially if you list with an EcoBroker® Certified Realtor, who knows how to market energy efficient features).

More than 750 Utah homeowners are expected to make the recommended energy efficiency retrofits, reducing their household’s energy use by 20% or greater. The funding is limited, so interested homeowners should act quickly – and start saving money right away!

In addition to the grant money available through Utah Home Performance with ENERGY STAR®, homeowners who make energy efficient upgrades to their homes may also receive federal tax credits and rebates through local utility companies.

What are you waiting for?  Contact me for more details: 435 647-3727 or UtahGreenHomes@gmail.com.

Blog post contributed by Beverly Hanson, Certified EcoBroker in Salt Lake City.  For all Real Estate needs along the Wasatch Front, Beverly can be found at slcgreenhomes.com

An effective, continuous air barrier system assists in controlling air movement into and out of your home.  The heating and air conditioning systems work more efficiently.  You save money!

The United States Department of Energy estimates “uncontrolled” air leakage can account for 30% or more of a home’s heating and cooling costs, and contribute to problems with moisture.

Air can go straight through glass fiber and cellulose, but it can’t go through COMFORT FOAM® closed-cell technology.  It is more than just insulation – it also provides an air barrier to properly seal your home.

Megan Luckan from Superior Insulation says “Closed cell foam gives high R value and air sealing and is the best bang for the buck, when it comes to thermally insulating your home”.

One of the featured vendors at the Swaner EcoFestival this week was DW Crosby displaying the All Season Control Cover.  According to the Department of Energy, 14% of energy loss in a typical home is through the fireplace.  The Control Cover is a chimney top fireplace damper system, perfect for new construction, or to repair or replace your current chimney caps or fireplace dampers.

Conserve energy and increase comfort.  Learn more at ControlCover.com

The FHA 203k loan is a great mortgage option that can provide clients up to $45,000 on top of their purchase loan for property upgrades. It is specifically for renovation of a purchased home (but can also be used as a refinance option for people who want to renovate their existing homes).

This loan allows buyers to add up to:
$35K for non-structural home improvements and upgrades
$8K for Energy Efficiency Upgrades (Ex. windows, furnace, insulation, energy star appliances, etc.)
$2K for Weatherization Upgrades

These loans are the perfect solution for buyers who want to buy a “fixer upper” or even those who simply want to update a home that doesn’t have the granite countertops and new appliances they want.

While these loans are perfect for the right buyer, they can be tricky to navigate. Make sure you work with a loan officer who knows the ins and outs of the 203K process and can minimize the impact on the borrower.

Carl Churchill
service-integrity-solutions
Community Banker
Mortgage and RefinanceSpecialist
mobile 801.573.8475
www.greenmortgageutah.com

The Utah State Energy Program is administering over $2.3 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) rebate funds for the Cash for Appliances Utah Program. Qualified products include clothes washers, room air conditioners, gas furnaces, gas storage water heaters and gas tankless water heaters. The program aims to replace over 19,000 inefficient appliances with energy-efficient models and save customers over $469,000 in energy costs. The projected CO2 savings from this program is the equivalent of taking 657 cars off the road or planting over 88,000 trees. Rebates are available beginning May 12, 2010 and are offered for qualified products on a first-come, first-served basis until funds run out. Rebates may be combined with existing utility, retailer or manufacturer rebates. Layering rebates is encouraged to maximize your savings.

Cash for Appliances Utah Details
•Cash for Appliances Utah is an appliance replacement program. Consumers must replace an existing appliance to qualify for Cash for Appliances Utah rebates.
•Purchase on or after May 12, 2010
•Available rebates:
•$75 rebate on clothes washers with a modified energy factor (MEF) of 2.0 or greater and a water factor (WF) of 6.0 or less
•$30 rebate on ENERGY STAR® qualified room air conditioners
•$300 rebate on ENERGY STAR® qualified gas furnaces with an annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) of at least 90%
•$300 on ENERGY STAR® qualified gas tankless water heaters with an energy factor (EF) of at least.82
•$50 on gas storage water heaters with an energy factor (EF) of at least .67
•Recycling your old appliances is encouraged
•Rebates are in addition to available utility, retailer and/or manufacturer rebates
•Rebates are available only while funds last

Go to Cash for Appliances Utah for Rebate Form, list of Qualified Products and FAQs.

Chris Bird, speaker, author and tax expert, reviews the energy tax credits in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Credits apply to improvements to a principal residence and range from a $1500 maximum credit for improvements such as insuation, doors and windows and roofs (2009-2010 only) to 30% credit of cost for major improvements (through 2016). For more information, go to www.energystar.gov for requirements and charts.

The Utah State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program (SEEARP) will launch on Wednesday May 12, 2010. A summary of included products, ENERGY STAR efficiency levels and rebate amounts is as follows:

Only purchases made after the start of the program will be eligible for a rebate. Consumers will be required to certify the rebated appliance will replace an appliance being taken out of service. Applications forms will be available at the point of sale and from a dedicated web site that is under development. Consumers can use the ENERGY STAR website to search for products by efficiency rating at this website.

Energy-inefficient homes and appliances

Ten years ago, shopping for home upgrades involved looking at a product’s functionality and aesthetic. Now, there’s another component: energy efficiency.

Today, the products most touted by manufacturers and retailers are those that are Energy Star certified and those that meet new federal environmental standards — most of which have higher price tags than their counterparts but help to lower heating and cooling bills.

The government is offering a federal tax credit of up to $1,500 on energy-efficient home upgrades through Dec. 31, 2016. But many are set to expire by Dec. 31, 2010; these include eligible insulation, roofs and windows and doors.

LED holiday lights save more than 90% on energy costs. It pays to switch. Park City Home Depot has good selection, good prices and plenty in stock (for now). http://www.energysavers.gov/seasonal/led_lighting.html

Brad Peacock from Summit Home Energy Solutions put together this chart showing your savings (based on local electric rates) , when changing 5 incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent.  This is a real easy way to cut your energy costs with real savings.  When looking at which bulbs to replace, keep in mind outdoor lighting.  Please call Brad with questions and to learn other ways you can make smart investments in your home.

Environmentally responsible solutions for failed windows. www.window-dynamics.com

Did you know:

• 3 million tons of glass and window components are thrown into landfills ever year.
• 2 million metric tons of greenhouses gases are produced making windows every year.
• The average life expectancy of a insulated glass unit is only 12 years.  Yet the components will last much longer.

We provide convenient, professional services that restores your view and saves you money. Our proven process quickly removes moisture from failed thermal pane windows and sliding doors, and permanently recovers insulating R-Value. 

• Protect against further damage.
• Restore the aesthetic beauty of your windows and doors.
• Fix windows and doors without the disruption or environmental consequence of replacing glass.

Let us show you how to save money and energy. Schedule a home energy audit today.

In-Home Energy Audit
For $25, a Questar Gas technician will visit your home, conduct an energy audit, and provide you with a detailed report on how to make your home more energy efficient. A water-heater blanket, pipe insulation, low-flow shower head, and/or faucet aerators will be provided if your audit indicates a need for them and if you are willing to install them. Follow through on recommendations associated to a rebate, and the $25 audit charge will be credited back to your gas account. In the end you get a free audit and you’re on your way to saving energy and money.

Schedule an appointment for a $25 in-home energy audit.

• Call Questar Gas at 800-695-7375 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday – Friday or
• E-mail In-HomeAudit@ThermWise.com. Please provide your name, address and daytime telephone number.

Free Do-It-Yourself Audit
If you are more of a do-it-yourselfer, we also provide a Free Mail-In Audit.

• Print the form now, or
• Use field-enabled form to fill out and submit on-line or
• Request a hard copy of the audit with a postage-paid return envelope by calling
  800-695-7375, or
• Email ThermWise.Audit@Questar.com. Please provide your name, address and daytime telephone number.

Along with your detailed report, a water-heater blanket, pipe insulation, low-flow shower head, and/or faucet aerators will be mailed to you if your audit indicates a need for them and if you are willing to install them.

$30 Programmable Thermostat Rebate
Rebates are only available for customers who have previously participated in Questar Gas’s ThermWise Home Energy Audit Program. Qualifying thermostats must meet 2006 ENERGY STAR^® requirements.

Save money and help the environment with our Energy Credit™ mortgage.

If you are an environmentally conscious consumer trying to do your part to help, Bank of America wants to help you by saving money on your mortgage.

When you build a home or purchase a newly constructed home that is ENERGY STAR® qualified¹, Bank of America will give you a credit of up to $1,000 toward the closing fees on your mortgage².  So, not only will you save with energy-efficient improvements that deliver better performance, greater comfort and lower utility bills, you’ll also save on closing costs.

Park City Board of Realtors adds Green Home Certifications and Green Features to MLS Listings
With more new construction being built to Energy Star standards or better, the Park City Board of Realtors has added searchable fields in the MLS System to identify Green Certifications, as well as Energy Efficient features in existing homes and condos.    This represents a significant step forward in identifying properties that perform better and provide the owner savings on  utility costs.
Case studies in areas, such as Seattle, where a larger portion of their homes are Built to a Green Standard, show that a Green Built Home will sell more quickly and for more $$ per sq ft.  We certainly are not that far along and it will take some time before appraisers in this area are assigning higher value for a Green Certified Home.  In the mean time, as more homes are built to these higher standards, it is likely that the market will start to distinguish their advantages and added value, resulting in faster sales.     Click here to view list of PCMLS Green Searchable Fields

Contributed by Sam Silvey, Ray-Core Energy Saving Building System

Ray-Core Inc. is a pioneer in developing energy efficient building materials for today’s energy conscious homebuilder. The Ray-Core Energy Saving Building System provides a simple construction solution for attaining peak performance in energy conservation. Through its simple to use wall and roof panel system savings are obtained during construction and over a lifetime for the homeowner.

Living and Building Green Expo Goes Online
This year’s Living and Building green Expo was a great success and will reside online between events.  This year’s Expo was held at the Canyons Grand Summit Hotel, with more than 70 vendors and non-profits exhibiting the latest technology and services for sustainable living, building green and increased energy efficiency in the home.  I have been  really impressed

Contributed by Eric Miller, New Leaf America

New Leaf America is dedicated to helping homeowners and small businesses to evaluate and implement cost effective energy saving retrofitting options. The process starts with a home evaluation. Once completed, a retrofitting plan is presented to the home or business owner. These recommendations focus on the most affordable, high return on investment, (ROI) energy efficient retrofitting options and include a true “common sense” approach to taking the first steps toward energy saving retrofitting for a home or business.

These first retrofitting steps (before going solar) focus mainly on exterior and interior lighting through the use of state of the art lighting products, water saving devices, slaying power vampires, and weatherization.

The local contact for New Leaf America is long time Park City resident Eric Miller, a LEED Accredited Professional.  Eric Miller can be reached at (435) 640-3934 or email Eric

Contributed by Jason Dittmer, DwellTek
It is important to state at the outset of this article that I am not a real estate agent, appraiser, or mortgage broker.  I am a residential home inspector and a HERS (Home Energy Rating System) energy rater. I have, however, owned a home and had the good fortune to recently sell it.  Because of my profession, and recent real estate transaction, I have had the opportunity to talk with many people in the industry and have examined this current market from both sides of the “For Sale” sign, and I believe the solution to all of our problems is the HERS energy rating………. Well, not really, but I think it can help and here is why.

Green and Sustainable materials are starting to become more and more popular these days.  All the talk seems to be about such items as bamboo flooring, recycled glass tile, formaldehyde free cabinetry, water permeable paving, insulated concrete forms (ICF), and many other earth conscious materials.  These and similar items are important to a more green or sustainable project, but method or approach to this project is just as important.  This “Green Method” starts from the beginning, or the planning stage, and by this I mean the design and drawing for your project.

What is the single most important aspect to building a green home?
Beyond thoughtful overall design and proper orientation of the house to maximize passive solar energy, the design of the thermal envelope is the most important aspect of building a green home…or any home for that matter.  Energy efficiency should really be the cornerstone of home construction moving forward.  After all, conservation of energy is the bottom line in this new era of construction.  The most effective way to create an energy efficient building enclosure is by utilizing foam insulation.  Furthermore, reducing or eliminating heat flow caused by thermal bridging in framing members is of paramount importance as well.

Best Article on Indoor Air Quality in Winter  – Achoo Allergy and Air Products

Read about the Health House -American Lung Association HEALTH HOUSE

What is Low VOC Paint (from Ecobroker International)
Low VOC Formulas from Sherwin Williams and Columbia Paints

More Information On This Topic:

U.S. Department of Energy’s Building Technologies Program: Indoor Air Quality Research and Development

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: An Introduction to Indoor Air Quality

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Indoor Air Quality in Large Buildings

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality

Contributed By Dennis Gray, P.E.
Programs such as ENERGY STAR, Built-Green, and LEED for Homes all require a third-party verification of energy systems and green building performance. This verification is done by an Energy Rater who is a licensed professional working under the auspices of the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET).
For a new home being designed, an Energy Rater may perform what is called a “Projected Rating” from a home’s drawings and specifications.