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How to Win the Energy-Savings Argument in 3 Easy Steps

How to Win the Energy-Savings Argument in 3 Easy Steps

Published: August 21, 2013

Trying to convince someone to save energy requires a bit of due diligence — we’ll show you how to win that argument every time.

If you’re trying to convince your partner to save energy, you may be facing an uphill battle.

That’s because debating it is about as much fun as watching your electric meter spin. In addition, your other half probably thinks adding energy-saving features costs too much and isn’t worth the effort.

So how do you make a dent in that ironclad reluctance?

Step #1: Do Your Homework

“The best way to minimize disagreements is with research and proof,” says Sandy Arons. She should know. As a financial counselor, it’s her job to assess the nuances of everyday costs, including home maintenance and repair.

Knowing her spouse wasn’t keen on spending for energy upgrades on their relatively new 17-year-old house, Arons gathered data to prove they could save money.

Energy audit infographic

The heart and soul of her data crunch was an energy audit provided free by her local utility company. An audit shows:

  • Where you’re wasting energy
  • How you can remedy problems
  • Your probable cost savings if you upgrade

Many utility companies offer a free home energy profile as an online service at their website or via an in-person visit from an energy expert.

You can also use calculators at government-supported websites, such as Home Energy Saver and Energy Star.

Better yet, hire an independent pro to do an energy evaluation for about $150. Just don’t forget to factor that money into the costs of your energy upgrades.

Related:

  • Professional Energy Audits: Costs and Benefits
  • DIY Home Energy Audit in 6 Easy Steps

Step #2: Gathering Cost Info

Gather estimated costs for the upgrades suggested by your audit. You can get estimates at an online home improvement cost site, such as CostHelper and DIYorNot, or contact local contractors to get bids for the work.

Step #3: Figuring Payback

Compare those proposed annual energy savings against the cost of the upgrades. Your goal is to figure out payback — how long it’ll take for the energy savings to pay off the cost of the improvements.

For the Arons house, an energy audit recommended increasing the depth of attic insulation, insulating attic knee walls, and adding roof vents to get rid of hot, trapped air.

Those improvements totaled about $1,000. With her audit showing a potential annual energy saving of $300, Arons figured a payback of about three years.

She put everything in a spreadsheet and showed her husband.

“Once I did that, it was easy for my husband to agree to the upgrades,” says Arons. “And once we’re through the payback period, all the savings are gravy.”

Related: Best ways to take back your energy bills

Want an Even Stronger Argument?

Don’t forget to research federal, state, local, and utility rebates for energy upgrades and apply those to your cost savings.

For example, if you upgrade your insulation in 2013, you may be eligible for a federal tax credit of up to $500.

With a Little Help from Some Friends

“When you’re trying to convince people to try something new to save money, it’s important to go straight to the numbers,” says Andrew Schrage, co-owner of Money Crashers Personal Finance.

When Schrage tried to get his neighbors to join the energy-savings movement, he called upon a friend who had recently gotten an energy audit and installed a programmable thermostat. The friend had tracked his utility bills for several months and discovered he was getting about a 25% savings.

Armed with his friend’s paperwork and a copy of the energy audit, Schrage was able to convince his neighbors to get their own audits and see what savings they could muster.

“They didn’t even know an energy audit was available,” notes Schrage. Now, he says, those neighbors are enjoying annual energy savings of 20%.

 

 

 

 

By: John Riha:© Copyright 2015 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

 

What Is Saint Patrick’s Day?

What Is Saint Patrick’s Day?

What is Saint Patrick’s Day?

Saint Patrick’s Day has come to be associated with everything Irish: anything green and gold, shamrocks and luck. Most importantly, to those who celebrate its intended meaning, St. Patrick’s Day is a traditional day for spiritual renewal and offering prayers for missionaries worldwide.

Why is it celebrated on March 17th? One theory is that that is the day that St. Patrick died. Since the holiday began in Ireland, it is believed that as the Irish spread out around the world, they took with them their history and celebrations. The biggest observance of all is, of course, in Ireland. With the exception of restaurants and pubs, almost all businesses close on March 17th. Being a religious holiday as well, many Irish attend mass, where March 17th is the traditional day for offering prayers for missionaries worldwide before the serious celebrating begins.

In American cities with a large Irish population, St. Patrick’s Day is a very big deal. Big cities and small towns alike celebrate with parades, “wearing of the green,” music and songs, Irish food and drink, and activities for kids such as crafts, coloring and games. Some communities even go so far as to dye rivers or streams green!

 

Saint Patrick, the Apostle of Ireland

Saint Patrick is the patron saint and national apostle of Ireland. St Patrick is credited with bringing christianity to Ireland. Most of what is known about him comes from his two works; the Confessio, a spiritual autobiography, and his Epistola, a denunciation of British mistreatment of Irish christians.

According to different versions of his life story it is said that he was born in Britain, around 385AD. His parents Calpurnius and Conchessa were Roman citizens living in either Scotland or Wales. As a boy of 14 he was captured and taken to Ireland where he spent six years in slavery herding sheep. He returned to Ireland in his 30s as a missionary among the Celtic pagans.

Saint Patrick described himself as a “most humble-minded man, pouring forth a continuous paean of thanks to his Maker for having chosen him as the instrument whereby multitudes who had worshipped idols and unclean things had become the people of God.”

Many folk ask the question ‘Why is the Shamrock the National Flower of Ireland ?’ The reason is that St. Patrick used it to explain the Holy Trinity to the pagans. Saint Patrick is believed to have been born in the late fourth century, and is often confused with Palladius, a bishop who was sent by Pope Celestine in 431 to be the first bishop to the Irish believers in Christ.

In the custom known as “drowning the shamrock”, the shamrock that has been worn on a lapel or hat is put in the last drink of the evening.

Saint Patrick is most known for driving the snakes from Ireland. It is true there are no snakes in Ireland, but there probably never have been – the island was separated from the rest of the continent at the end of the Ice Age. As in many old pagan religions, serpent symbols were common and often worshipped. Driving the snakes from Ireland was probably symbolic of putting an end to that pagan practice. While not the first to bring christianity to Ireland, it is Patrick who is said to have encountered the Druids at Tara and abolished their pagan rites. The story holds that he converted the warrior chiefs and princes, baptizing them and thousands of their subjects in the “Holy Wells” that still bear this name.

There are several accounts of Saint Patrick’s death. One says that Patrick died at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland, on March 17, 460 A.D. His jawbone was preserved in a silver shrine and was often requested in times of childbirth, epileptic fits, and as a preservative against the “evil eye.” Another account says that St. Patrick ended his days at Glastonbury, England and was buried there. The Chapel of St. Patrick still exists as part of Glastonbury Abbey. Today, many Catholic places of worship all around the world are named after St. Patrick, including cathedrals in New York and Dublin city.

 

 

By: Saint-Patrick’s-Day.com

When’s the Best Time to Plant Trees?

When’s the Best Time to Plant Trees?

Published: August 15, 2014

Plant trees at the right time and they’re more likely to thrive. Here’s when to plant so you get the most value from your landscaping investment.

Trees are big-ticket landscape items that not only cost a lot, but add a lot of value to your home, too — by some estimates a mature tree adds nearly $10,000 in value to your property.

So it’s important to plant trees when they’re most likely to survive.

When’s the Best Time to Plant Trees?

Here’s the short answer: Plant trees when they have enough time to establish roots before they’re exposed to stressors like high heat, low temperatures, or not enough water.

Nicholas Staddon of Monrovia, a plant seller, says late summer/early fall is the best time to plant in most parts of the U.S. — zones 4 to 8.

“During the winter months in many parts of the U.S., roots are still active,” Staddon says. “The tree starts to acclimatize itself to your soil. So in the spring, it bursts forth with leaves and flowers.”

Of course, trees have different needs, and areas have different climates. So, we’re breaking down best planting times according to climates and types of trees.

When to Plant Trees in Cold Climates

The window of opportunity to plant trees in colder climates — zones 1 to 3 — is relatively short. You can’t dig until the ground has warmed, and you’ve got only a few months to plant before the ground freezes again.

Early spring, just as the ground thaws, is the best time plant. Fall can be too late, because trees won’t be able to survive the freezing temperatures that can damage roots and stop moisture from reaching the tree.

When to Plant Trees in Warm Climates

Fall’s the best time to plant in the deep South — zones 9 and 10.

  • After the first frosts, trees become dormant and require less food through young roots.
  • Tree carbohydrates can go directly toward root growth, rather than canopy growth.
  • Mild winters give trees enough growing time to establish root systems that will survive in hot summers.

Make sure you keep young trees well-watered through dry winters.

Types of Trees and When to Plant Them

Bare root trees: These trees are dug from the ground when they are dormant, stored in some moist medium, then shipped bare of soil. Because these roots are naked, plant these trees in spring when they won’t suffer winter injuries. But more important, plant these trees when you get them; the trick is to order correctly so they’ll arrive when they have the best chance to survive.

Container trees: These trees have been grown in pots or burlap wrapping, and have roots covered in soil. They’re not as delicate as bare root trees, so timing is not quite as important. Plant whenever your tree will have a couple of months to establish roots before extreme temperatures — hot or cold — will stress it.

Deciduous trees: Deciduous trees make the decision easy, because they tell you when they’re going dormant by dropping their leaves. Plant in fall, and keep them well-watered even through winter.

Evergreens: Plant these early fall or late spring — just about any time that doesn’t see extreme heat.

Conifers: These cone-bearing trees are particularly susceptible to cold weather because their needles lose moisture all winter even though the tree is sleeping. If you live in a climate where frozen soil prevents water from getting to conifer roots, plant in spring.

Transplants: Transplant trees in spring after the ground has warmed and before the tree sets buds, or in fall after leaves have fallen and before the ground freezes. Younger trees will endure transplanting better than mature trees, which don’t like the shock.

Related: Best Trees To Grow Curb Appeal

 

By: Lisa Kaplan Gordon:© Copyright 2015 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

 

9 Things You’ve Got Wrong About Green Homes

9 Things You’ve Got Wrong About Green Homes

Although most folks know green homes pack plenty of eco-friendly benefits, there are some pesky misconceptions that need correcting. Here are 9 myths busted.

1.  Myth: Green Homes are Expensive

Fact:
 Eco-friendly homes come in different types, sizes, and price tags, from a green-minded prefab that can cost less than $150,000 to an eco-urban condo for $690,000 or more. The big difference is in resale value: Eco-friendly homes fetch higher prices compared with conventionally built homes.

2.  Myth: Green Homes Look Kooky

Fact: Not all green homes look like grass-roofed hobbit holes or extra-crunchy Earthships. That’s old school. Eco-friendly abodes being built today can look just like traditional houses — except they may have solar panels or small wind turbines.

3.  Myth: Green Homes are a “California Thing”

Fact: California has the strictest environmental laws in the country, so it would make sense to think green homes are a hot property in the Golden State. But when you add up the number of houses that were certified in 2012 by Energy Star for their energy savings and eco-friendly benefits, Texas is a green home leader, with more than three times the number of Energy Star-certified homes than California.

Energy Star-Certified Homes
California 6,173
Texas 21,351

Plus, both Delaware and Maryland have a higher penetration of Energy Star homes. Both have 40% compared with California’s 23%. (Texas is 27%.)

4.  Myth: Green Homes Use Only Non-Toxic Materials

Fact: Not always. Spray polyurethane foam is a petroleum-based product that’s a controversial green building favorite. Although it’s considered an energy-saving rock star because it creates a tight seal and has a high R-value (insulation), the off-gassing it creates during and shortly after installation can cause serious respiratory issues. The EPA still supports its use, but the Passive House Institute U.S. won’t certify homes insulated with the material because it contributes to global warming.

5.  Myth: Green Homes Require Newfangled Technologies

Fact: Green homes aren’t about gizmos and gadgets. They’re about better construction methods that boost energy efficiency and promote healthy indoor environments. With that said, developing eco-friendly home habits like unplugging vampire devices or mastering how to program a digital thermostat can help to further shrink your home’s carbon footprint.

6.  Myth: Green Homes Need Exotic New Building Materials 

Fact: Nope! New building materials have a negative impact on the planet because they produce greenhouse gases during both manufacturing and shipping. That’s why locally salvaged flooring is considered greener than the bamboo stuff that’s harvested from a sustainable source thousands of miles away. 

7.  Myth: Green Homes Need New Energy-Efficient Appliances

Fact: It’s not very green to trash appliances in good working condition, even if they’re not rated for energy efficiency, according to the EPA. With proper maintenance major appliances, such as refrigerators and washing machines, can be useful for 10 to 18 years. 

8.  Myth: Green Homes are Needed More in Urban Areas

Fact: In actuality, rural and suburban homes are the ones that need some serious greening. Thanks to walkability, people who live in high-density cities have a smaller carbon footprint since they burn fewer fossil fuels. Bonus: Walkability can actually increase your home’s value.

9.  Myth: Existing Homes Can’t Be Green

Fact: False! Retrofitting an existing home is much greener than building a new one, according to a study by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. New green homes take 10 to 80 years to overcome the negative environmental affects of the construction process. Since remodeling older homes requires fewer building materials, retrofitting can leave a much smaller carbon footprint.

 

By: Deirdre Sullivan:© Copyright 2015 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

The new electric company: Your home

The new electric company: Your home

 

WASHINGTON – Jan. 28, 2015 – Some builders are starting to design “net-zero” homes for the mass market in hopes of taking the concept mainstream. Long viewed as a niche product for the wealthy buyers, net-zero homes generate more electricity in a year than they use; and the homeowner receives credit for the excess electricity.

Builders believe there is rising demand from home buyers and local regulators. However, the cost of achieving net-zero status – the initial outlay for equipment – will be the main hurdle.

Customers who switch to solar would have to wait several years for electricity-bill savings to cover the thousands of dollars they spent upfront on features like solar panels and energy-efficient windows, doors and appliances.

The industry predicts that parts of the country with a lot of sunshine to generate solar energy – such as Florida or the American Southwest – will see the highest initial demand for solar energy.

The Department of Energy certified 370 homes as “net-zero ready” in the past year, but the total number of homes is just a fraction of the overall market.

 

 

Source: Wall Street Journal (01/21/15) P. A3; Hudson, Kris

© Copyright 2015 INFORMATION, INC. Bethesda, MD (301) 215-4688

7 Ways to Have an Eco-Friendly Christmas

7 Ways to Have an Eco-Friendly Christmas

Published: December 10, 2010

With a few conscious choices, your merry Christmas can also be an eco-friendly Christmas.

‘Tis the season to consume and decorate, which can leave your bank statement and the planet a little beat up. Celebrate an eco-friendly Christmas and nip your seasonal costs in the bud:

1. Light up with LEDs. LED lights use at least 75% less energy than conventional holiday decorations, according to Energy Star. That saves the average family about $50 on energy bills during the holiday, says Avital Binshtock of the Sierra Club in San Francisco. Or douse the lights and use soy-based or beeswax candles; their emissions are cleaner than those from paraffin candles.

2. Make your own decorations. Save money and keep your kids busy by hand-crafting eco-friendly decor—strings of popcorn or pine cones—instead of buying mass-produced holiday flare.

3. Wrap with stuff you already have. Get creative with reusable shopping bags, magazines, and newspapers instead of using wrapping paper. Even gift bags that recipients can pass on make for a more eco-friendly Christmas, says Brian Clark Howard of The Daily Green.

4. Buy a real tree. Real Christmas trees, wreaths, and garlands are renewable and recyclable, Binshtock says. Real trees mean an annual cost, but that may be a wash if you tend to buy a faux tree several times a decade.

5. Say “no” to glossy paper decorations and wrapping. Shininess and color come from chemicals not easily recycled. Alternative: Decorations or wrapping papers that use soy inks or natural dyes.

6. Package it in cardboard. Plain, corrugated cardboard is good for packaging because it’s easy to recycle. If plastic factors into your holiday plans, look for No. 1 and No. 2 plastics, the easiest to recycle, says Ben Champion, director of sustainability for Kansas State University.

7. Create precious moments that don’t leave a trail of debris.

  • Do something experiential like taking the family to a museum.
  • Give a gift certificate or donation to an organization meaningful to the recipient in the receiver’s name. Happy holidays to you: No sales tax.
  • Buy fair-trade, organic, or locally made products, which are often one-of-a-kind and may not need as much packaging and shipping, Champion says.

 

 

By: G. M. Filisko:© Copyright 2014 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

 

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