Ways to Save - Frequently Asked Questions
What’s a carbon footprint?
Your carbon footprint is the direct effect that your actions and lifestyle have on the environment, in terms of carbon dioxide emissions. Every time you drive a car or use fossil fuel, you are contributing to your carbon footprint.
Why is that a problem?
The world’s carbon emissions are at an all-time high, creating a thick “blanket” of gasses around our earth and causing climate change. If we don’t take action to reverse our growing carbon emissions, the damage to our environment could be irreversible.
What is best way to reduce my energy costs?
One of the fastest, easiest and most cost-effective ways to reduce energy costs from winter through summer is to caulk, seal and weather-strip cracks, seams and openings to the outside. Think your windows are to blame for the chill? You may be surprised at where leaks can hide.
How does air escape?
About one-third of the air that escapes your home moves through openings in your ceilings, walls and floors. To thoroughly seal your home, you can:
- Request a blower-door test to pinpoint all the areas where air is leaking. Your Energy Technician may conduct a blower door test as part of our Energy Checkup
- Caulk and weather-strip doors and windows that leak air
- Caulk and seal air leaks where plumbing, ducting, or electrical wiring penetrates walls, floors, ceilings and soffits over cabinets
- Install foam gaskets behind outlets and switch plates
- Look for dirty spots on your insulation, which often indicates holes where air leaks at interior wall/ceiling joints and wall/floor joists
- Install storm windows over single-pane windows or replace them with more efficient double-pane windows
What is an energy efficient mortgage?
An energy efficient mortgage is a loan that that allows borrowers to reduce their utility bill costs by allowing them to finance the cost of incorporating energy-efficient features into a new housing purchase or the refinancing of existing housing. Qualified homes must be inspected according to qualification standards created by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Why should I consider an energy efficient mortgage?
Home buyers can qualify for a larger amount because a monthly energy efficient savings amount counts toward a borrower’s income during the loan underwriting process. In addition, builders may move inventory faster even on larger or more amenity-filled homes because the current cumulative energy savings are added to the appraised value of the home, allowing buyers to purchase “more house.” However, since builders generally receive rebates on energy efficient material, their costs to build are not increased.
What is a Home Energy Rating System?
A Home Energy Rating System (HERS) rating is an evaluation of the energy efficiency of a home and must have a minimum 74.9-65 rating that meets minimum requirements of the Model Energy Code (MEC).
