Flat Fee MLS Blog

The “green” mortgage was born in 1979, when President Jimmy Carter signed an executive order directing federally sponsored secondary market institutions to offer consumers incentives for energy-efficient homes.

Green mortgages, or energy-efficient mortgages, allow homeowners to use their commitment to the environment to leverage bigger loans. The concept is based on the premise that a more energy-efficient home will have lower utility bills. That savings can be considered income, allowing a homebuyer to qualify for a bigger loan.

You have to provide a Home Energy Rating System report in order to apply for a green mortgage. HERS reports indicate that your house meets all engergy-efficiency guidelines. The builder can provide proof for a new home.

If you are a homeowner looking to upgrade your home’s energy-efficiency, you can commission a trained Energy Rater to issue a HERS report suggesting efficiency improvements. The Energy Rater can estimate the cost of those improvements, as well as the savings. Cost for the report is usually a few hundred dollars.

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     According to the Rocky Mountain News, a new factory that will make affordable solar panels from ordinary window panes is set to open in Colorado this year.

The AVA Solar Inc. project uses a technological breakthrough by Colorado State University researchers, and promises to produce solar panels at a price that is comparable to other forms of energy…potentially catapulting solar energy into the mainstream once and for all according to energy expert Dan Shapley.

Reaping what the sun gives naturally everyday is smart and efficient. The fewer “conversions” energy goes through the more efficient it is. If the sun drives the growth of a plant, turning that plant into fuel adds a conversion, and energy is lost. Letting that plant cook underground for millions of years until it becomes coal or oil is yet another inefficiency.

Solar power has never been very appealing, that’s the problem with it and it just costs too much. But the AVA Solar plan-should it prove to be as good as it says it is-along with other innovations are transforming solar power into a mainstream commodity. The project is one of 10 Photovoltaic Module Incubator projects funded by the Dept. of Energy’s Solar America Initiative. The program has the goal of driving technological innovations that makes the cost of solar energy competitive with traditional forms of electric production, like burning coal, oil and natural gas, says Shapley.

If every house had affordable solar panels supplying a portion of its electricity, the demand for electricity from heavy-polluting sources like coal-fired power plants would drop, along with emissions driving global warming, causing acid rain and poisoning lakes and streams with toxic mercury.

And the jobs created at the factory–as many as 500–show that dreams of a “green collar economy” that has at its heart technological innovation and high-tech manufacturing are a very real and lucrative path toward the future.

Energy is a necessity and clean renewable energy is an obligation to our earth and our future. Solar energy is currently available, cost effective and clean. It’s time for us to adopt solar energy systems. 

For competitive cost estimates and expert advice check out www.energy-guru.com

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                      Sears’ Kenmore appliance brand is rolling out some new fridges this month according to Ruth Katz. Just in time for Earth Day! Unveiled this past winter at the International Builders Show, Sears’ Kenmore state-of-the-art refrigerators are now featuring Microban antimicrobial technology, which allows the crisper drawers to remain fresh for longer periods in between cleanings; moreover, this innovatiove technology inhibits the growth of stain-and odor-causing bacteria.

Another plus -the Kenmore PUR Ultimate II water filter with two-stage filtration, which removes impurities from drinking water. This can produce a real savings on the purchase of bottled water, resulting in less plastic emanating from your house. Perhaps best of all, check out the Sears web site to see which Kenmore models not only meet-but exceed-Energy Star standards. The new Microban antimicrobial technology can be found in a variety of Kenmore refrigerators, in white, stainless steel, biscuit, satina and black. Prices range from $1,099 to $1,399.

Check out these new chilly “ice boxes,” as our Granny used to call them, in case you want to buy an Earth Day gift for your home. www.Sears.com

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        Look for the new label from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) called WaterSense, it addresses the need to be water smart as well as dollar smart. This program’s mission is to protect the future of the water supply by promoting water-efficient products and services.

You will find the label on a variety of plumbing equipment scheduled to roll out this year and next. WaterSense partners for high-efficiency plumbing equipment include some of the biggest manufacturers in the business- Kohler, Delta Faucet, Hansgrohe, American Standard and Crane. Kohler and its  sister brand, Sterling, already have eight toilets that have earned the WaterSense label, meaning that they use at least 20% less water than standard toilets.

According to the EPA, the average American home uses more water for flushing the toilet than running the shower. A family of four could save 16,000 gallons of water a year by replacing a traditional toilet with a high-efficiency model. This is a big savings in dollars as well as droplets.

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Environmental concerns are becoming increasingly important in consumers decision making process and bamboo flooring is a perfect choice for the environmentally conscious consumer according to expert Mark Western.

Bamboo is actually a grass. A harvested bamboo plantation can regenerate without replanting within 3 years whereas traditonal hardwood plantations can take up to 75 years to regenerate. Bamboo has been known to grow as much a 1 metre in 24 hours. It is often grown in areas which have been previously damaged by soil erosion, overgrazing and commercial agriculture and its extensive root system helps restore the stability of these areas and removes nitrogen, phosphorus and heavy metals from the soil. Bamboo is a sustainable resource.

Bamboo offers multiple benefits:

1. With bamboo flooring you can creat a stylish and homey environment-bamboo provides warmth like wood.

2. Bamboo works well with any decor- bamboo   offers several design options because it has a very rich visual texture and a unique pattern. It is naturally blonde in color but some varieties are stained to provide different color choices.  Example: Bamboo can undergo a smoking process to give it an amber hue.

3. Bamboo can be treated to prevent damage-most bamboo flooring is pre-finished and ready for installation. Maintenance is usually the same as pre-finished wood products, so be sure to follow manufacturer instructions.

4. Bamboo flooring offers unparalleled strength, durability and moisture resistance when compared to traditional hardwood floorings. It is ideal for kitchen areas where normal timber flooring is not recommended and does not wear as quickly as any other timber flooring.

For more information on alternative floorings check out Lumber Liquidators at www.lumberliquidators.com

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              More than ever before, going green is about how we live our daily life and make small improvements that have a big impact on the earth. Going green in the home is no exception.

Here’s some simple tips to make your home more eco-friendly:

1. Start by making your kitchen greener by upgrading to energy efficient ENERGY STAR appliances. These will provide savings of up to 30% in greenhouse gas emissions and will save energy costs.

2. Go green with style-install a kitchen faucet that has sustainable features and turn it off when you step away from the sink. The Muirfield with ChoiceFlo filtering kitchen faucet is a great eco-friendly addition. It provides both filtered and tap water from one spout. The  activated carbon block filter reduces many impurities, such as lead and chlorine. This also allows you to eliminate the environmental strain associated with bottled water packaging and delivery. Muirfield with ChoiceFlo is available at Lowe’s stores nationwide.

3. Incorporate more green fixtures in your bath. After  toilets and washing machines, showers are next in line as residential water hogs.  Low flow showerheads  offer a 30%  water savings from the industry standard showerheads.

You don’t have to go to extremes to be green,  just make some small changes and you can make a big impact today.

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     It’s a tough time to sell a house. But what if you really need to sell your home….right now? If you can’t wait until the market improves, the good news is you can gain a leg up on the other houses for sale in your price range by making smart and quick eco-renovations.

Here are ways to make your house stand out from the rest by going green:

1. The key is to make improvements to your home’s energy efficiency, and document how the monthly bills change over time. Highlight the savings to your potential buyers and provide comparisons to typical bills for similar-sized houses in your region (call your utility for details or visit the Dept. of Energy’s Energy Infomation Administrations at eia.doe.gov)

2. Replace as many lightbulbs as you can with CFLs (compact fluorescents). CFLs use a quarter of the electricity as regular bulbs, and lighting accounts for 20% of home energy use.

3. Upgrad any old or questionable appliances with new Energy Star-certified models. The EPA’s blue and white label indicates models must be 10% to 50% more effcient than standard offerings. A good idea-install a programmable thermostat and motions detectors.

4. Make sure cracks are tightly caulked and leaks are sealed. Just doing that can drop your annual heating bill by $100, according to Dept. of Energy figures. Consider if your insulation needs beefing up as insulation can be a selling point.

5. Make your home as healthy a space as possible, going healthy sells. There are many people with allergies, asthma, chemical sensitivities, etc. who consider top indoor air quality a necessity. Putting on a fresh coat of the new and now-widely available “low-VOC” paints can go a long way toward attracting buyers.

6. Old carpets can be a real turnoff, and can emit allergens and toxins. Expose the hardwood floors if you have that option, if you don’t have that option consider new, eco-friendly carpeting.

7. If your home is older, you’ll want to a check on the possible situation of lead paint and asbestos-issues much better left to qualified professionals. The best thing you can do when considering selling your home green is to call in experts to make recommendations, such as an energy audit.

Remember that you may qualify for federal, state or local tax credits by going green. www.dsireusa.org , www.energystar.gov

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