Eco Friendly Real Estate Blog

Just a quick reminder that the 3rd part of our Webinar series on how to make an Existing Home Green with myself and Michael Strong of Brothers Strong is this Saturday February 21st at 11 am.  The topic this week will be HVAC and Insulation. 

We will go over what you need to know about changing out and upgrading your existing Heat and A/C system to one that is more efficient and everything in regards to Insulation. 

We have changed the initial dates for the rest of the Series so that we can be all finished up by April 2nd that will have you ready to go for the HOT and HUMID Summer here in Houston!  You can take everything you learn to get those summer utility bills down! 

Here are the topics for the rest of the Series and below is the Calendar for TurningHoustonGreen.  Just take a quick look through and see if there is anything you are interested in!

Register for Part 3 Webinar

I would also like to take a quick moment to Thank our Sponsors for helping to bring this to you:

Pella Windows

Bluegill Energy Management

Lutron Lighting and Electronics

***

Energy Efficiency, Energy Efficiency, Energy Efficiency.  It is all we have heard for about a year and is one of the Hottest topics in the 2009 State of Texas Legislative Session.  However, in Houston we may NOT want to wait to see what happens this year - We should probably consider making the changes NOW!

Part of the infamous Bailout last October was to extend some Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.  While the Solar Tax Credits were improved AND extended through 2016, The Tax Credit for Energy Efficient Improvements was ONLY extended through 2009! 

The Federal Tax Credit includes:

• Windows and Doors
• Insulation
• HVAC
• Water Heaters
  
• AND MORE

Now, The Tax Credit is for 10% of the cost and UP TO $500 -

While that may not have you running to the Phone Book to find a Contractor, let's consider making these changes ON MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND May 23-25 2009 -

Odd, I know, that I would recommend only doing this on ONE Weekend a year - Let me Explain.

The State of Texas has scheduled the Tax Free Weekend for Energy Star Items again this year!  It's on Memorial Day weekend and for what is Energy Star Rated, IT IS TAX FREE!  Here is what falls under the Tax Abatement:

• A/C Systems priced Under $6,000
• Programmable Thermostats
• Ceiling Fans
• Dishwashers
• Dehumidifiers (which could go under A/C)
• LIGHT BULBS (STOCK UP FOR THE YEAR OR TWO!)
• Refrigerators under $2000

Under the State of Texas Program this sometimes will also include some Installation/Delivery costs AND will work on all Online Purchases!!

So now, if you combine the two this year - You can get $500 back on your 2009 Tax Return AND save at least 8% on Tax when Buying it on Memorial Day Weekend!  Here's a breakdown:

• $400 Dishwasher - $33 in tax
• $50 Programmable Thermostat - $4.13 in tax
• HVAC based on $3000 System - $247.50 in tax
  
• Water Heater - $16.50 in tax
  

You could potentially save A LOT of money.  If you decide to only do the ones that can qualify TWICE you may want to consider an HVAC System and Water Heater over Memorial Day.

Let's hope that the Federal Incentive is extended past 2009 but I know for a fact that some Energy Efficiency items that I was personally holding off on, I'm going to do this year.

If you decide to take advantage of these items, be sure to stop back by and let us know how much you save!!

*****UPDATE*****

Part of the lovely Stimulus package that people either love or hate from Feb. 2009 has extended the Federal Tax Credit through 2010.  But still consider making these changes on Memorial Day weekend!

There has been a ton of hype on Spray Foam insulation and 'Sealing' up your attic or Pier and Beam home over the last year.

Part 2 of the Turning Houston Green Webinar Series goes over Sealed Attics and Crawl Spaces with a special look at Spray foam insulation.  Things to look for and when not to consider.  Michael Strong makes some great points in regards to re-insulating your walls (when and how you should do it in a most cost effective way)

If you would like to register for one of the other 6 Sessions that we are going to do just click over and sign up on the Turning Houston Green and Michael Strong Registration Webinar Series page.

Below is the recorded version of it and so that it makes more sense towards the end I recommend viewing the chat archive at the same time.

I would also like to take a quick moment to Thank our Sponsors for helping to bring this to you:

Pella Windows

Bluegill Energy Management

Lutron Lighting and Electronics ***

As part of the Greening Your Existing Home Web Seminar series that I have mentioned in a previous post, we did Part 1 today and had a great time! 

The Series is with myself and Michael Strong with Brothers Strong and we reviewed Energy Conservation and Energy Audits - What they are and why you need one to 'Green' Up your home.  We also had our Energy Expert on there who is Clayton Farmer with Bluegill Energy Management answering some questions in the Chat Room.

If you missed it and would like to listen in you can find the recorded version below.  Also, you may want to read through the Chat Archive along with it.

To sign up for Future Webinar Series, I invite you to register with this link.  We have the registration links posted for Through February and will be posting more in the upcoming weeks.  The series is expected to go through Mid April.

Here is the termporary schedule right now - Again, February dates are Set.

• Jan. 31st from 11-12        Energy Audits <
• Feb. 4th from 7p-8p         Insulation
• Feb. 21st from 11-12       HVAC (Heating and Cooling)
• Feb. 25th from 7p-8p       Radiant Barrier and Windows
• March 14th from 11-12     To Be Determined
• March 28th from 11-12     Water Conservation Fixtures and Delivery Systems
• April 1st from 7p-8p         Indoor Air Quality
• April 11th from 11-12       Durability
• April 15th from 7p-8p       Top 10 Practices and Green Guidelines

And now, the recorded session.  :0)

I would also like to take a moment to Thank our Sponsors for this Series:

Pella Windows

Bluegill Energy Mangament

Lutron Lighting and Electronics

Just in the past year and a half we have gone from the majority of people not ever hearing about Green Building/Green Homes- To the majority of people wanting to go Green in their homes in one way or another.  What I find fascinating about this movement is that it is truly a Consumer Driven market right now. 

I mean, who would NOT want a more Energy Efficient, Healthier home right?

Now, I can't speak for all areas of the Nation, but in Houston, this has created some what of a...Frustration.  There are more people looking for a 'Green' New Construction Home (key word New Construction) than there really are homes on the ground.  We can find Energy Efficient, not a problem.  But when we start adding in the Low/No VOC Paints, Caulks, Products- Recycled Content- Renewable Energy and so forth...it is few and far between sometimes.

Then if someone really wants to build, we take in to consideration the cost of New Construction for a TRUE 'Green' built home, LEED for example, this is right now in Houston- quite high compared to what most people are looking for when you take the size of home desired, features that they want IN the home...we are looking at about $200 per square foot NOT counting the cost of land vs. $80-$120 for resales or just Energy Efficient or minimally Green.  That is a pretty big leap.

Not taking in to consideration the cost, part of this is a numbers game.  How many buyers are there vs. New Construction Inventory homes right now?  Probably quite a few more buyers. 

But what if we change that scenario to How many buyers are there vs. Homes on the Market right now?  Now we are talking! 

On my other blog I have just finished a series called the 'Hypothetical Remodel' where myself and some of the Green Building Experts around town decided to put something together on how exactly Homebuyers can Purchase and existing Home with the Floorplan, Location and other features desired, use a Conventional 30 Year Fixed Renovation Loan to 'Green' up the house.

Remember how the cost difference was between $80 and $120 per sq ft?  That is a lot of room in many cases to be able to Renovate about any home out there to YOUR desire.  It would have the Cosmetic features such as tile, countertops, etc that you want in a home with everything else to fit the Buyers needs.

Here is a basic breakdown of how it works:

• Make sure that you qualify for a Conventional Loan for a desired purchase amount
• Find the home you want..with a great imagination of course of what the home COULD look like
• Once we get the contract written, call out some contractors and designers!
• An Energy Audit is Essential here also to get it more Energy Efficient
• Get the bids for the work, the home will be appraised for AFTER Renovation Value
• Once you close on the home, the work should be complete in no more than 60 Days

Personally, I forsee a lot of interest in these kind of loans over the next couple of years.  I think we will start seeing more and more banks offering them.  For now, I have only found ONE in the entire State of Texas.  Why? Because this is still a 5% down Conventional Mortgage and you do not have to pay Home Improvement Loan like Interest Rates..5.5% as of last Friday!

This is all just another way to Go Green when buying a home.  If you would like to read the Entire Series on how we went about doing this, Master Bathroom Designs and ALL- You can find it in the link below.  I put all 7 parts of the Series in one PDF E-Book for Convenience. Just click below:

How To Buy a Home and Renovate it GREEN

Also, keep your eyes out for some exciting information about what is coming in 2009 through TurningHoustonGreen!  An 8 Part Series of Webinars starting at the end of January with myself and Houston's very own Michael Strong with Brothers Strong going in to detail about how to Green up the Existing Home!

If you are thinking about Buying a home to Green Up, or just thinking about 'Greening UP' the home you already own, you may want to tune in!