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”. (more…)

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.