A rising trend of super-efficient, solar-powered new homes allows homeowners to combat rising energy costs by giving back to the power grid. Some owners are even realizing a small profit from their home’s power-generating capacity.  Intelligent house layout and design, and home features such as dual-pane windows, air-tight ductwork and high-caliber wall and attic insulation, are curbing energy consumption. And when coupled with solar energy, captured through photovoltaic panels, these homes are becoming their own mini power plants that feed electricity to the grid.

In 2009, U.S. homeowners paid an average $2,200 for energy use in their homes, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. A growing number of homeowners have the opportunity to erase that cost.  Read the full article.

The program is a public-private partnership – the feds will pay  $2 billion, ordered through a Presidential Memorandum, for federal building upgrades, and 60 CEOs, mayors, university presidents and labor leaders committed to invest $2 billion of private capital for federal and private-sector buildings.  There are no up-front costs to taxpayers – energy service firms will bid on the work and make the upgrades with no upfront cost – they will get paid over time through energy savings on utility bills.   After the energy service companies are paid back, building owners, be they public or private, keep future savings.

“Upgrading the energy efficiency of America’s buildings is one of the fastest, easiest and cheapest ways to save money, cut down on harmful pollution, and create good jobs right now,” says Obama in a statement.   The program is estimated to save $40 billion a year in energy costs, and create 50,000 jobs in the hard-hit construction industry.  Read the full article.

I love my Family Room. It’s a great room (literally) with cathedral ceilings, old wood beams, a floor to ceiling fireplace and is open to the Kitchen. However, because of where it is situated in my home, is just a little dark for my liking. Since I do not have the option of adding another window, I am considering putting in solar tubes. These are tubes that run from the ceiling of a room to the roof.  They collect light, reflect it down the tube and then diffuse it into the attached room. Solar tubes work like skylights but are less expensive and require less roof/ceiling space. A 10-inch solar tube can produce 3,750 lumens of light, whereas a 60-watt incandescent bulb only produces 870 lumens. This means that one 10-inch solar tube can replace about four 60-watt incandescent bulbs!

Solar tubes require no electricity to run and produce no pollution. This can result in energy cost savings and contribute to a healthier planet. According to the National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory of the EPA, natural lighting can contribute to psychological and physical health by boosting energy and concentration levels. A study by the Florida Energy Conservation Assistance Program showed that natural lighting resulted in reduced eye fatigue and headaches by providing better light and matching the normal functional rhythms of the human body. Having access to natural light also helps the body produce vitamin D.  This all sounds beneficial to me! I am putting solar tubes on my wish list of home improvements.

wendy@ctgreenrealestate.com    William Raveis Real Estate

Source: American Express Spending & Saving Tracker

Source: 2011 Gibbs & Soell Sense & Sustainability® Study

wendy@ctgreenrealestate.com   William Raveis Real Estate