Hanover, Ma: Earth Day 2012 - Tips for Your Home

by: Allison Q Guido, CS (Hanover Ma)

Yesterday was Earth Day 2012. Earth Day is a celebrated each year, and events are held worldwide to increase awareness and appreciation of the Earth's natural environment. 2012 was the 42nd anniversary of that mission which was attributed to John McConnell staring in 1969.

In honor of Earth Day Almar Building & Remodeling, Hanover Ma wanted to share some tips and information about how you can make changes in your own home to improve the earth’s and your personal environment.

1.      Replace leaky Faucets: gallons of water can be wasted each day from what appears to be a minor leak.  Need helping finding the right faucets for your home? Stop in and see our friends at Snow & Jones in Norwell to get a Kohler faucet.

2. Choose the Right Cabinets: “Many cabinets are made from particle board, hardwood plywood paneling, or medium density fiberboard glued together using a formaldehyde-based adhesive. To avoid exposure to harmful chemicals, purchase cabinetry made with formaldehyde-free adhesives and finishes.”*1 Almar installs Huntwood Custom Cabinets which offers us Green Manufacturing.  

3.      Choose Flooring that has environmentally friendly attributes without sacrificing style.

a.       Sustainable Grown/Harvested Materials

b.      Reclaimed materials

c.       Recycles materials

d.      Reduced Toxicity 

4.      Water Filtration: Although the EPA enforces national standards for taps water approximately 4 out 10 American homes also have a water filtration system.  

5.      Replace old toilets: Toilets account for almost 30% of your homes water usage. In 1992 the Energy Policy Act was enacted which mandated water efficient toilets use up to 3.5 gallons of water per flush. By replacing your old toilet with a to high-efficiency toilets can save a family of four, on average, $2,000 in water bills over the lifetime of the toilets.*2 

6.      Upgrade Insulation: By insulating your house or sealing up air leaks you can your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Installed correctly, insulation can deliver comfort and lower energy bills during the hottest and coldest times of the year. 

7.      Weatherize with Windows, Doors and Skylights: Leaky unites allow warm air to escape which makes your heating/cooling units run more. By installing Energy-Efficient Windows and Doors (Like Harvey Classic or Alside Excalibur Windows) you can reduce energy costs.  

8.      Low-VOC Paint: When choosing paint opt for Low-VOC products to reduce air pollution.  

9.      Choose low-maintenance Exterior Finishes: “When choosing the finish for your home, look into recycled-content materials that are locally manufactured. High-maintenance materials (such as wood) should be avoided to reduce repair, replacement, and upkeep costs (e.g., repainting). Brick, concrete, stucco, steel, aluminum, and fiber-cement offer superior longevity, and resist cracking and other deterioration.” *3 

     10.  Choose a Cool Roof: Most people choose dark roofing shingles. But if you choose a lighter roof shingle (or one of Certainteed’s Solaris Shingles) that have high reflectance and emissivity you can keep your roof up to 70degrees cooler than traditional shingles. Which can help save you money on air conditioning costs.

You can also get information about programs and incentives for renewable energy in Massachusetts please visit: http://www.dsireusa.org The Database of State Incentives for Renewables & 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 and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, DSIRE is an ongoing project of the N.C. Solar Center and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council.”

*1. http://www.epa.gov/greenhomes/Kitchen.htm

*2. http://www.epa.gov/greenhomes/bathroom.htm

*3. http://www.epa.gov/greenhomes/WholeHouse.htm

2011 Tax Credits for Energy-Efficient Home Imporvements

NARI (National Association of the Remodeling Industry) has an article posted on their website dated 12.26.10, talking about how new federal law guts tax credits for energy-efficient home improvements. While reading this article I feel like they are taking a totally negative attitude towards the revisions in the tax credits.

Personally Almar was taking the opinion that once the tax credits expired on 12.31.10 that was it we weren’t getting anything in 2011. So my perception of the NARI article is a bit different, cause I’m reading it thinking “Great! At least my homeowners can get something a little extra for the improvements they continue to make this year”

The long and the short of the changes for 2011 are:

1. The bill pushed back the expiration date for tax deductibility of mortgage insurance premiums for another year.

2. In 2011 you can get a 10% credit with a $500 maximum for purchases of insulation materials, exteriors windows, storm doors, skylights, metal and asphalt roofs that resist heat gain.

3. $150 tax credit limit on the cost of qualifying gas, propane, and oil furnaces, and hot water boilers.

4. $300 credit limit on central air systems, electric heat pumps water heaters, biomass stoves, electric heat pumps, and gas and propane water heaters.

5. $200 is now available for installing energy efficient windows in 2011.

These are all huge cuts from the 2010 credit available, but it is still and extra something just for making smart improvements to your home that will continue to save you money year after year. Because don’t forget that once you make an energy efficient improvement the long-terms savings need to be taken into consideration as well.

My hope is that there will be another change and increase in the tax credit program for energy efficient projects, because I think they are very important to the health and comfort of Almar’s clients. Until you experience the change from draft windows to new vinyl replacement, or the change from a home with no insulation to one with you can’t really understand how vitally important the changes your can’t see sometimes are your home.

Allison Q Guido, General Manager