With checks already in the mail, you may be wondering how you are going to spend (or save) the tax rebate that is part of the government's economic stimulus plan. According to a survey conducted by building products manufacturer Johns Manville and reported on the Building Online web site, 24 percent of U.S. homeowners are "considering using" the money they will receive as part of the federal economic stimulus package to upgrade or improve their homes. One in five said they would "definitely use" their rebate money for a home improvement project. Respondents had definite ideas on what those projects would be. Here's how they said they'd spend the rebate: "household upgrades, including landscaping (23 percent) or an upgrade of the bathroom (13 percent) or kitchen (12 percent); improving their homes' energy efficiency, including adding attic insulation (9 percent), caulking or sealing (4 percent), or installing energy efficient light bulbs (4 percent); or painting a room (10 percent)." How will you spend your rebate?
The best time to buy is when something is out of season. And with spring upon us, it's the right time to think about wood heating for your home. Mother Earth News has a useful article helping homeowners decide if wood heating is the right option for them. As a general rule, wood heating can provide a cost savings if the home is located in a rural area and the homeowner can do some of the wood processing required themselves. Heating with wood offers several environmental benefits; it's a renewable resource and is available in wide swaths across the United States, reducing our dependence on fossil fuels from foreign countries. Wood heating is available in a variety of options to suit homeowners' living arrangements. Read the complete article to decide if wood heating is the right option for your home.
On April 22, Earth Day, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will kick off its year-long "Change the World: Start with Energy Star" campaign to combat global warming. It asks consumers to take the new Energy Star pledge and perform the following actions:
Replace at least one light with an energy-efficient CFL bulb or fixture.
Use a programmable thermostat and perform regular maintenance of HVAC equipment.
Activate power management features on home computers.
Choose Energy Star-qualified TVs and other home entertainment products.
When replacing appliances, choose Energy Star-qualified products.
Light up for the holidays with decorative lights that have earned the Energy Star rating.
These simple actions not only reduce consumers' energy bills but also fight global warming. Consumers who take the pledge will be able to submit testimonials at www.energystar.gov about their family's commitment to saving energy. This summer, the EPA will visit communities around the nation to gather testimonials, check in with families who have taken the pledge and provide advice on saving energy.
As the largest energy consumer in the United States, the Department of Defense is always looking for energy-efficient technologies. So when Fort Dix ordered 2,000 units of a new type of heating system, I took special notice of the brand. I can see why they chose them. Using patented technology, the Acadia heating system can provide savings of up to 70 percent over other conventional systems. Way to go, Uncle Sam! The Acadia is available for residences and can be installed by any experienced HVAC contractor, no special training required.
I was so excited to get a new boiler. After all, I constantly write about energy efficiency and believe in upgrading to a more environmentally sound and safer system. The tax credit will be handy and, at last, we've designed a system where we can shut down certain zones and power up others. We're saving energy and moving into the 21st century with a boiler that is space-age compared to our old one. So, imagine my surprise when it fired up and was so loud I stopped speaking while chatting with a friend in my living room. That couldn't be my boiler, I reasoned. Why would it be so loud?
It turns out that one circulator pump will actually make too much noise and carry too much water if only one zone is calling for heat. Does that mean I want to turn up all the thermostats to quiet this beast? That's not an energy-efficient solution by any means. It turns out that bigger is not necessarily better when it comes to sizing circulators. The calculations show that our home is on the edge between an 07 circulator and an 08. In this case, we'll try to make due with the 07, reduce the flow, and see if quiet reigns once again. If not, it's time to mount the pumps and valves on rubber-backed boards to reduce the vibration. Honestly, who ever thought to ask if it would be too loud? Heed my advice: Listen to the system you buy, ask how loud it is, or have a contractual agreement that says you won't pay the full amount until satisfied with the operation of the equipment. It's worth it.
I'm not usually a fan of forms or IRS info., but I find the energy tax credit form to be fascinating reading. Any qualified energy-saving installation or improvement made by December 31, 2007 will earn you varying degrees of tax credit on this year's tax return. You'll need to file Form 5695, available on the IRS website.
The credits can be hefty and are given for installing energy-efficient windows, exterior doors, insulation, metal roofs with thermal coatings to prevent heat buildup, heat-circulating furnace fans, new furnaces, high-efficiency central air conditioning, hot water tanks, and electricity-producing solar, fuel cell, and geo-thermal systems. Credits can even be applied to joint ventures with neighbors or other property owners and may also apply to second homes that are not primary residences. The key is to read the explanatory pages that accompany the form and check to see that your "energy property" complies. A manufacturer's written certification of energy efficiency or an Energy Star label is satisfactory proof of compliance. Written certifications should not be attached to the form; you should keep them with your own tax records.
The "returns" on making your home more energy efficient are tremendous. In the short term, you could save money with your next tax return. In the long term, you'll save money by using less energy for years to come.
With fall now upon us, it's time to start thinking and preparing for winter. Tough to imagine, but here in New England that means the days of sunshine and warmth are replaced by days of snow and ice. It's inevitable.
But one of the best things you can do to prepare for winter is to wrap your hot water heater. If it is warm to the touch, you need to insulate it. These unwrapped heaters lose lots of ambient heat to their surroundings, which is just waste, pure and simple--unless you are inclined to heat your basement. Insulating blankets and jackets for electric water heaters are available at most home centers and the U.S. Department of Energy has a set of instructions on how to do this. Be sure not to set the temperature above 130 degrees on a wrapped electric hot water heater as the wiring may overheat. Insulating a gas water heater is more complicated and should be done by a qualified plumber or heating contractor. This wrapping is one of the most inexpensive ways to save yourself a bundle in energy costs.
