| Tax Credits for energy efficient home improvements |
| When the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 passed it included tax credits for energy efficient home improvements. Homeowners will enjoy the long-term energy savings benefit and a tax credit. The credit applies to 2009 and 2010 returns with a lifetime cap of $1,500. Fill out IRS form 5695 to claim the credits when you file your federal tax return. |
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| Green Mortgages |
| With an Energy Efficient Mortgage, lenders will take into account lower monthly utility costs and qualify a buyer for a higher monthly mortgage payment and may also be willing to finance energy efficient home improvements into the mortgage. Source: CNN Money |
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| Database of State incentives for renewable and efficiency |
| DSIRE is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility and federal incentives and policies that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. Established in 1995, DSIRE is an ongoing project of the NC Solar Center and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. Incentives offered in PA |
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| ConsumerEnergyCenter.org |
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Find the latest information about energy resources and how to use them wisely in our home, work and vehicles. |
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| State and Local Programs |
| The websites below have resources to help REALTORS® and consumers access state and local opportunities: |
| • DSIRE: Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency |
| • EPA: Green Building |
| • Special Offers and Rebates from ENERGY STAR Partners |
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| Greenwashing |
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In today’s marketing frenzy to attract consumers with “green” products and programs, sometimes claims are made without verifiable positive effects on the environment. Sometimes companies will make vague or broad comments about their product being good for the environment without the impact being expressed. It is important not to be too general when marketing green elements of a home. To say a home is green when it has only one or two green features would be an example of greenwashing. Stick to the facts. What are the appliance ratings? What specific energy efficient features does the building or home have? |
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| REGreenProgram.org |
| Best practice guidelines and targeted educational resources for sustainable residential improvement projects. |
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| National Association of Home Builders Survey |
| The survey reports over 75 percent of buyers consider green important or very important in purchasing a home. Fifty-one percent are willing to pay $5,000 - $11,000 more for the home in order to get Green features. Inexpensive and simple things can be done to increase the energy efficiency of your home: programmable thermostats, CFL bulbs, LED lights, dimmers, occupancy sensors, water heater jacket, Energy Star appliances, rain barrels to collect rain water to use in watering plants, low-flow faucets and caulking are some examples. |
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| Energy Audit |
| This program is administered for PPL Electric Utilities by Lockheed Martin (LM). If you are interested in obtaining a home energy audit, call 1-866-941-7313 and LM will supply a list of auditors from which to choose. You can also obtain the list of auditors directly from the website. The audit cost is approximately $400 to $600. For the first 5,000 residential customers, PPL will offer a rebate of $250 for electric heated customers or $100 for non-electric heating customers who obtain a home energy audit. |
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| RESNET: Residential Energy Services Network |
| In April 1995, the National Association of State Energy Officials and Energy Rated Homes of America founded the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) to develop a national market for home energy rating systems and energy efficient mortgages. RESNET's activities are guided by a mortgage industry steering committee composed of the leading national mortgage executives. |
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| Pennsylvania Loan Programs for Renewable Energy |
| One source of information about various loan programs available in PA. |
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| Financial Incentives for Using Renewable and Energy Efficient Products |
| Grant, rebate and loan programs available in PA. |
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| GreenBuildingAdvisor.com |
| A good site for basics about going green, a blog on green issues, green homes, product guide of green products and strategies for applying green principals in a home. |
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| Green Remodeling, will it pay off? |
| From GreenandSave.com a Return on Investment table for home remodeling projects: |
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For the complete ROI tables and topic page with details on over 50 ways to SAVE Money and the Environment visit: Home Remodeling ROI. |
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For the complete ROI tables and topic page with details on over 50 ways to SAVE Money and the Environment visit: Home Remodeling ROI. |
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For the complete ROI tables and topic page with details on over 50 ways to SAVE Money and the Environment visit: Home Remodeling ROI. |