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June 2011
Get an Energy Audit and Save Money!
For those living in metropolitan Phoenix and surrounding areas: Summer is upon us again and electricity bills dramatically increase at this time of year due to the hot weather but fortunately, Salt River Project (SRP) and Arizona Public Service (APS) are offering energy audits that will save you money!
Currently, an energy audit costs $99 with SRP/APS rebates (audits cost $400-$500 before rebates) but some of your initial investment will immediately be offset when auditors install up to 10 CFL bulbs, one low-flow showerhead and three low-flow faucet aerators during the audit.
The energy audit will identify areas of your home that should be repaired or replaced in order to save energy and money. The auditors will check your A/C system, ductwork, insulation, shade screens, appliances, lighting and other electrical items like pool pumps. They will also perform a blower door test to check for air leaks and make timer changes which will start saving you money right away.
Rebates are available for many of the recommended improvements and auditors can help you develop a priority list and give you a list of available rebates. In addition, financing is available for energy improvements for higher ticket items.
Between the savings, rebates and freebies you will receive, you should quickly get the cost you pay for the audit back. Having the energy audit performed will also give you a strategy for implementing energy saving improvements that will lower your energy bill in the long run and create a more comfortable and affordable home.
For more information on this Energy Star program contact your utility
company:
SRP
or
Stay cool and happy savings!
Patrick Walsh, CNE, Green
Your neighbor, your Realtor
March 2011
Safe and Sustainable Home Cleaning Products
As a Green Realtor, one of my goals is to provide clients and friends with information which will contribute to greener, more sustainable homes and life-styles. One of the resources I coordinated in order to share information is my list of Green Vendors (www.tempe-listings.com).
I recently came across a company to add to the Green Vendor list. Melaleuca is a company that has been around for 25 years and is a source of over 350 wellness products including green home cleaning products. Melaleuca is the scientific name for tea tree oil which the company uses as a basic ingredient in many of its products.
Claiming to have been green from the beginning (back when green was just a color!), Melaleuca describes itself as a leader in environmental wellness:
- Natural botanical ingredients such as jojoba and tea tree oil
- Citric acid and thyme instead of chlorine and ammonia
- Safe and non-toxic- No child-resistant caps
- Majority of products are biodegradable
- Green manufacturing plants- Recycled production materials
Melaleuca also claims to deliver products at lower costs than store-bought national brands. One way the company reduces costs is by producing super-concentrated products thus reducing packaging and shipping costs. Another reason products are cheaper than store-bought products is the company doesn’t advertise and doesn’t share profits with middle men (distributors and stores).
If you want to sample Melaleucas’ wonderful, eco-friendly products please contact Harvey Hess for more information: 480-940-7625 or Harvey@harveyhess.com
. Let him know you heard about Melaleuca from Patrick’s blog or website.
If you know of any Green Vendors that aren’t on my Green Vendor list, please feel free to email me at pwalsh@kw.com.
February 2010
Add Value to Your Home by Remodeling
Clients often ask me which home renovations, remodels and improvements will add the most value to their home when it comes time to sell. More accurately, the question is: which projects will provide the best return on investment (ROI). I have opinions, of course. But now I have some facts to back those opinions up.
In the January issue of Realtor magazine, an article entitled “Small Projects, Big Bang” summarizes the results of the Remodeling Cost vs Value Report 2009-10. The report outlined a number of different home improvement projects, costed them out in different metropolitan areas around the US and calibrated a percentage ROI on each one. There’s a lot of detailed information in the Remodeling Cost vs Value Report 2009-2010
article (and helpful hints on smaller projects) but here’s my summary for the Phoenix market:
Curb appeal has always been important. A little front yard landscaping can go a long way to making a good first impression on buyers. However, you might also want to give your front door a good look. Replacing the front door with a mid-range product (approximately $1200) had the best ROI of all the improvements at 128%.
Several of the most worthwhile improvements are, not surprisingly, centered on the kitchen:
• add a breakfast bar (this can be as simple as cutting an opening in a wall, adding a bar and a couple of stools)
• upgrade the kitchen counter to granite tile (12” tile is a very affordable option compared with granite slab)
• cabinet fronts (check into refacing or replacing doors or perhaps just the hardware)
• tidy and organize kitchen cabinets (Yes, buyers open them so adding a roll-out tray or lazy susan can create the illusion of more space.)
• retile the backsplash to freshen or brighten or just clean up the look of your kitchen
Updating light fixtures is also a very cost-effective way to add value. Installing recessed canned lights on a dimmer switch can make any room more interesting. Pendant lights over a kitchen island are also appealing.
Look into replacing your single pane windows with energy-efficient dual or even triple pane windows. The energy savings alone make this a great investment while you are living in your home, but buyers also seem to really value this upgrade.
If you need any more information on remodeling or renovations, I keep a list of reliable vendors who could estimate your job for you. And I’m always happy to talk to you about plans for your home with a view to selling at a later date. But remember, don’t make a change solely for the sake of resale. This project needs to be something that you and your family will enjoy for the length of time you live in your home.
October 2008
Green Innovations at the 2008 Green Summit!
September 2008
How does free electricity sound?!
The savings on your Utility Bill could pay for a Solar Powered System.
APS is introducing a new loan for home owners to install solar panels to generate their own electricity:
The GEOsmart loan program means that for no money down, you can install solar panels and the monthly cost could be ZERO depending on the amount of electricity you use and the amount of sunlight that reaches your roof.
Here's how it works:
First find a licensed and approved contractor at www.egia.com/aps. Have the contractor calculate the right system for your home. Then plug in the numbers to the calculator and find out what your payments would be. Take your monthly electricity bill and, if the solar system can cover 80% of your electrical needs, calculate that number. If it is more than the monthly loan payment for the system then getting solar panels for your home is a 'no brainer.'
During the day when the system is producing electricity that you are not using, the meter actually runs backwards as your system sends electricity back to the utility company. This is a great way to increase your savings.
Typical numbers:
The installation for the average home is a 3KW system that costs around $21,000. This system triggers a $9,000 rebate. (For more information on rebates go to www.aps.com) This rebate can be used to pay down the interest rate to around 8%. A 10-year loan would run around $160 a month and a 15 year loan around $125 a month. I know for our home that is well below our average monthly electricity bill.
Customers in areas served by SRP can still get loans and work with the approved contractors. The interest rates may not be quite as attractive as they are for APS customers. (www.srpnet.com)
August 2008: Home Sale Preparation- Beat Out Your Competitors
July 2008: Cost-Efficient Energy Alternatives and Solutions
June 2008: Water Harvesting Made Simple
April 2008: Honoring Earth Day
December 2007: Green Up Your Holidays
September 2007: Green Building Takes Nation... and Arizona... By Storm! Plus, Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Household Cleaners
July 2007: LiveEarth Concert Info
June 2007: Going Solar: Bring Energy Independence to Your Backyard
May 2007: Creating a More Energy Efficient Home
April 2007: Green Remodeling Ideas
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