Virginia nonprofit provides home inspections to local residents at low cost

In order to help prepare local residents for the warmer weather, the Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP), a nonprofit energy services organization based in Virginia, is partnering with the city of Charlottesville to provide cost-effective home inspections.

According to experts from LEAP, there are several simple upgrades people can make to their properties to reduce their electricity bills during the spring and summer. WVIR NBC29 reports that, thanks this joint initiative, homeowners have been able to get their properties reviewed for just $25, while it previously would have cost them $100. 

One individual who has taken advantage of this service told the source that it was a valuable experience to have professionals come in and help her prioritize the fixes she needed to make inside her house. 

"There's a lot of information out there about how to save but nothing beats having someone come to your home and help work on your specific situation," said Laura Fiori, a residential energy manager at LEAP. "Everybody wants to do something to save energy but it's hard to see where to start."

After performing a one-hour assessment, the representatives from LEAP give homeowners two lists. One features changes they can make on their own and the other includes larger issues that will likely require the work of a professional. In most cases, there are necessary repairs that only cost a couple hundred dollars, but can save people money in the long run. 

If you're interested in making energy-efficient upgrades to your home, you'll be happy to hear that the state of Maryland's provides multiple rebate offerings, including those available from Pepco and Potomac Edison, which make the initial implementation more cost-effective. To get started, contact a home inspection contractor to perform an energy audit.

High levels of radon detected in Dodge County Courthouse in Minnesota

Employees with offices in the Dodge County Courthouse in Mantorville, Minnesota, will be moved temporarily to a different part of the building after officials learned that there are potentially dangerous radon levels in the basement.

According to Post-Bulletin.com, a local news source, county commissioners installed a monitor in certain rooms of the facility following evidence that the hazardous gas had been building up over night when the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems were turned down. The analysis revealed that the radon didn't dissipate during the day in at least a few of the rooms and that it had reached levels deemed dangerous by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The EPA states that radon – a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas – is responsible for 21,000 deaths each year, making it the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.

When radon is detected in a building, it's important for people to do whatever they can to avoid being exposed to it for a prolonged period of time, which is why officials from Mantorville opted to relocate their employees while the situation undergoes evaluation and mitigation. 

"We're very concerned about the health and safety of staff members," commissioner Steven Gray said at a county board meeting on March 26. 

If you want to have your home inspected for signs of this deadly gas, it's a good idea to reach out to a home inspection contractor. These professionals will conduct radon testing at your current property and determine if you are safe. Additionally, it's essential to get a house inspected before you buy it, since it's impossible for the untrained eye to pick up on these kinds of hazards.

High school in Missouri to receive $500,000 worth of energy-efficient upgrades

Thanks to efforts by The Doe Run Company, an innovative natural resources outfit headquartered in Missouri, one high school will soon be able to reap the benefits of energy efficient technologies.

According to STLtoday, Herculaneum High School will be getting $500,000 worth of solar panel installations as well as other eco-friendly upgrades, the likes of which are projected to save the district at least $27,000 in annual power costs. Not only that, but it will provide an opportunity for students to learn about renewable electricity.

After partnering with a local home inspection company that provides energy audits, Doe Run was able to determine which kind of improvements made the most sense for the building. In addition to the solar panels – which should be fully installed by the end of the summer if all goes as planned – the facility will also receive an upgraded HVAC system and new LED lights.

Once the changes have been implemented, students will analyze and monitor the school's energy use as part of their curriculum.

"We're grateful to Doe Run for the ongoing support they provide for our district," said Stan Stratton, superintendent of the Dunklin R-V School District. "Renewable and efficient energy sources are becoming increasingly important in our world, so it is exciting that we have the opportunity to introduce these concepts to our students, who will be tomorrow's scientists, engineers and electricians."

If you're interested in making eco-friendly upgrades to your property, it may actually be more affordable than you think – and the long-term savings almost always make it worthwhile. To get started, contact a home inspection contractor to request an energy audit. These professionals can help you identify the best solutions for your house.

Iowa Senate votes for mandatory radon testing in schools

Exposure to radon can cause serious health problems. In fact, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it's the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, and is responsible for about 21,000 deaths each year. With this in mind, it's essential to take proper precautions to ensure that the hazardous gas isn't present in homes, schools and other buildings across the United States. 

On March 20, the Iowa Senate voted 37-13 to require public and private schools to test for radon and install systems designed to get rid of the gas if it leaks into the buildings. Additionally, residential construction companies would have to include pipes for removing radon in all homes built from January 1, 2015 forward.

Eastern Iowa news source, The Gazette, states that opponents of the bill cited the significant amount of money that it would cost schools to comply with the potential new law as one of the main reasons they don't support it. But bill sponsor Sen. Matt McCoy, D-Des Moines, noted that he thinks it's a logical response to the 400 deaths in Iowa each year due to radon exposure.

"There are times when government really needs to step in and mandate something," said McCoy. "When something is causing cancer and killing individuals, in most cases unbeknownst to them, I think we have an obligation to make sure that when new construction occurs that we're taking these minimum steps."

If you want to have your home checked out, you may want to reach out to a home inspection contractor. These professionals can conduct radon testing at your current property and determine if you are safe. Additionally, it's essential to get a house inspected before you buy it, since it's impossible for the untrained eye to pick up on these kinds of hazards.

Final part of on-stage Hurricane Katrina-inspired trilogy examines mold hazards

When Hurricane Katrina – one of the strongest storms in the past 100 years – struck the coast of the United States in 2005, it devastated the city of New Orleans, killing nearly 2,000 people and displacing people from their flooded homes for months to come. 

As a tribute to the experiences people endured during and after the storm, playwright John Biguenet recently debuted "Mold," the final work in his trilogy of plays based on the disaster. 

"'Mold' tells the story of Trey and Marie Guidry, a young couple who had lost their own home, and have now returned from Houston a year to the day after the flood to begin assessing what to do with his parents' home," states NOLA.com. "Their journey and those they encounter reveal the heartaches of loss, unresolved familial issues and often painful questions of just what home is."

Since flooding brings excess moisture into a house, it provides the perfect environment for mold to grow and thrive, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). With this in mind, it's essential for homeowners to do whatever they can to treat their properties and combat this hazardous fungus before it begins negatively impacting their well-being. 

Unfortunately, Hurricane Katrina isn't the only recent natural disaster that has led to significant mold problems among residents of the city it hit. Superstorm Sandy, which ravaged the East Coast in October 2012, has also left thousands of homeowners stuck dealing with the effects of the fungus. 

EPA data reveals that exposure to mold can cause mild to severe health problems, particularly for people who already suffer from asthma and allergies. No matter what, it's not good to be in its presence on a daily basis. To make sure your home or business isn't infested with it, contact a home inspection contractor to perform mold testing and help you determine if you're safe.

Consumers could save big money if better informed about energy efficient products

Although many savvy homeowners across the United States have already been reaping the benefits of energy efficient upgrades to their properties, a new study suggests that if individuals had better access to information about these fixtures and appliances, they would be more likely to select them. 

The report, entitled "Overcoming Market Barriers and Using Market Forces to Advance Energy Efficiency," was released by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy on March 18. The data reveals that if consumers were better informed about the power-saving options that are already available to them, they could save a collective $1 trillion on electricity bills in the next 15 years. Additionally, these eco-friendly technologies could drastically reduce the amount of energy the United States uses by up to 20 percent.

The organization cites Energy Star-certified products as one of the ways that Americans are made aware of what they can do to reduce their carbon footprint and lower their utility bills, but states that there ought to be a more robust effort to educate people about cost-effective electricity saving solutions. 

"Imperfect information may be the most widespread barrier to energy efficiency," states the report. "A much more effective [appliance labeling program] would group products into categories based on efficiency (e.g. one to five stars) – an easy-to-understand approach that also motivates consumers to purchase highly rated products."

Thanks to the state of Maryland's multiple rebate opportunities, including those offered by Pepco and Potomac Edison, it may be easier and more cost-effective than you think to make energy efficient upgrades to your property. To get started, contact a home inspection contractor to request an energy audit and see which options are available to you. 

Energy-efficient homes 32 percent less likely to go into default, says study

Many of the advantages of upgrading to an eco-friendly house – such as saving money on monthly utility bills and reducing one's carbon footprint – have become common knowledge over the years, but the benefits don't end there. According to new data from the University of North Carolina – Center for Community Capital and the Institute for Market Transformation (IMT), homeowners who live energy-efficient properties have a 32 percent lower risk of defaulting on a mortgage. 

The study, entitled "Home Energy Efficiency and Mortgage Risks," examined 71,000 Energy Star and non-Energy Star-rated single-family home mortgages, using loan performance data from CoreLogic to determine the probability of default. The report found that the more green technology features a house included, the lower the risk of borrowers not being able to make their monthly loan payments was. 

"It stands to reason that energy-efficient homes should have a lower default rate, because the owners of these homes save money on their utility bills, and they can put that money toward their mortgage payments," said Cliff Majersik, executive director of IMT. "We long believed this to be the case, and now this study proves it. Successful housing market reforms will require reconsidering the risk factors in mortgage default, including energy costs."

Thanks to the state of Maryland's multiple rebate offerings, including those available from Pepco and Potomac Edison, it may be easier and more cost-effective than you think to make energy-efficient upgrades to your property. To get started, contact a home inspection contractor to request an energy audit. Additionally, keep in mind that some key tax credits made it into the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 as part of the fiscal cliff deal, meaning that homeowners can save up to $500 on certain green technology features. 

Workshop in Washington educates local residents about benefits of energy-efficient homes

As spring approaches, it's a good time to start thinking about weatherizing your house in preparation for next winter. And, in Thurston County, Washington, there's an initiative set up to help inform local residents about realistic ways to make their properties more energy efficient. 

According to regional news publication ThurstonTalk.com, the Home Efficiency Action Training (HEAT) workshop will be held this Thursday, March 21, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Lacey Timberland Library. The purpose of this event is educate attendees about the kinds of options that are available to them and how green technology upgrades can help them save money on their monthly utility bills. 

Marty Hemmann, who went to a HEAT workshop in January, told the source that it was a good experience for him. He ultimately selected a company that had been present that night to make improvements to his house, like sealing up air leaks and installing a ductless heat pump.

"We like to do these workshops because it gives folks a chance to really think about how energy efficiency works in a home. We get people calling us to help lower their electricity bills and our response is: 'First make your home more efficient. Then call us,'" says Kirk Haffner of South Sound Solar. "Yes, solar is the ultimate renewable energy source. However, your home needs to operate a basic level of energy efficiency or you're not going to get the full benefit of an investment in solar."

If you're interested in making eco-friendly upgrades to your property, it may actually be more affordable than you think – and the long-term savings almost always make it worthwhile. To get started, contact a home inspection contractor to request an energy audit.

Habitat for Humanity builds passive house for Washington family

Thanks to the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity in Whatcom County, Washington, one family in need will soon be the proud new owner of an energy-efficient home in Bellingham. 

According to The Bellingham Herald, Leandra Huante-Garcia, her husband, Jaime Huante, and the couple's three children will go from paying at least $200 per month to keep their house warm to only $200 each year. This is the first property built by the non-profit that includes a "passive house" design which, says architect Marcus Swed, means the the occupants themselves will be heating the home. 

The Habitat for Humanity program enables families to help construct a brand new house and purchase it with just $500 down and 0 percent interest on the mortgage. Although building properties with green technology features such as extra insulation and energy-efficient appliances is expensive up front, the non-profit's executive director, John Moon, says that lower heating costs help to offset the initial expenses. 

Haunte-Garcia told the source that she's thrilled to be moving into an affordable home big enough for her whole family. 

"It's going to be very good for us in the future," she said. "It's a blessing. That's all I can say."

It's always heartening to see these kinds of humanitarian efforts in action. However, it's important to keep in mind that thanks to the state of Maryland's multiple rebate offerings, including those available from Pepco and Potomac Edison, it may be easier and more cost-effective than you think to make energy-efficient upgrades to your property. To get started, contact a home inspection contractor to request an energy audit. Additionally, as we've mentioned before on this blog, some key tax credits made it into the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 as part of the fiscal cliff deal, meaning that homeowners can save up to $500 on energy-efficient upgrades.

Businesses and cities enjoy significant return on investments in LED bulbs

We recently reported on the Washington State Department of Transportation's decision to replace highway lighting on US 101 west of Olympia with LED bulbs. According to a March 14 article from Washington news source The Columbian, this is just one of the many example of business and cities that recognize the advantages of this particular energy-efficient upgrade.

When it comes to commercial buildings and street and highway lights, the initial cost of implementing LED bulbs is offset by a significant return on the investment, states the source. Not only do these fixtures consume less energy, but they also adapt better to outdoor temperature changes and moisture. The benefits don't end there, though. These special lamps are designed to direct the light downward toward the ground so it doesn't interfere with astronomy centers, wildlife and local residences. 

"Well-designed LED lamps shine light where you want it and not in bedroom windows or other places you don't," said commercial lighting account representative David Yang.

The LED bulbs that are currently available for businesses and highways can reduce power costs by a whopping 50 to 70 percent and cut back on the need for maintenance and repairs, as these lights are known for having a more robust lifespan than their incandescent or compact-florescent alternatives.

According to Energy Star, homeowners who convert to LED bulbs – which last 35 to 50 times longer than other common household lighting – spend up to 75 percent less on their monthly electricity bills. If you're interested in learning about how this and other energy-efficient upgrades can help you switch to a more eco-friendly and cost-effective lifestyle, contact a home inspection contractor. They can perform an energy audit and help you determine how to get started.