Archive for: March, 2010

Tips for Green Home Improvement

Mar 29 2010 Published by Adam Diver under Green Architecture, Living, Miscellaneous

The entire world is going green and you should too, but maybe you just don’t know where to start. Well, I’m fixing to give you three things that you can get started on to improve the efficiency of your home.

Insulation

You may think that if you change and/or improve the insulation within your home that you will have to do a major renovation; however, this is not the case at all. A couple of ways you can improve your insulation without all the hassle of doing so is by using cellulose insulation or using spray foam for the insulation. Since we are on the subject, I had a friend that was building her house and when it came time to insulate it, do you know what she used in the walls? She used old blue jeans, t-shirts, etc. It seemed to have worked very well so this may be a great idea if you are currently working on the construction of your home.

Windows

Windows can help create an energy efficient green home during the winter as well summer. Although this can be expensive, the best thing to do is to replace your windows with double or even triple pane windows. However, if you cannot afford to do that just yet, there are a few little things you can do. Make sure the windows are sealed firmly so as to not let any heat out or any heat in – depending on the season. In addition, you can also find very thick curtains (even at Wal-Mart) that can keep the light out by a significant amount.

Doors

Where to start? How efficient is your garage? Probably not very, so you could start there. You could replace the old one with a new and energy efficient garage door, which are commonly filled with polystyrene. Put new weather stripping around all the doors and even the windows in your home. On the other hand, if you have some extra money to spend, you can actually buy insulated thick doors that will help as they have polystyrene in them.

Those are a few tips that will get you started. Check back for more tips, DIY tips, and more information on creating an energy efficient home.

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Three Cheap Tips for a Green Home

Mar 22 2010 Published by Adam Diver under Living

These days it is important to save money in every aspect of life. One of the best and easiest ways to save money is to incorporate efficient things within your home. You can create a green home with just a few simple and easy tips. Best of all, these tips are cheap and you could do them yourself without calling out a contractor.

Install a Filtration System

Go to Wal-Mart, Lowe’s, Home Depot, or the like and purchase a water filter or an entire filtration system. Having clean and safe water in the home with no waste is a very smart move in the home improvement area. Having a water filter or filtration system means that you’ll have safe water coming out of the faucet and the need of buying and throwing away plastic water bottles will diminish.

Install Energy Efficient Bulbs

The next thing that you can do is to install energy efficient light bulbs throughout your home. Did you know that energy efficient bulbs use approximately 25% of the energy that a normal light bulb does yet produces the same quality of light. Have an odd light fixture? If so, you can still probably find energy efficient bulbs, you may just have to look a little harder. Visit your local hardware store and they can help you find the right energy efficient light bulb. Were you aware that one energy efficient light bulb could replace approximately 25 regular light bulbs? Crazy, huh? You can definitely save a lot!

Be Smart with Laundry

Laundry is something that has to be done, we can’t get by without doing it, so why not make the best of it, and save money when and where we can? First, you can start by washing your clothing on cold instead of warm or hot. It works just as well – honest – and you’ll save money and life on your washer. Also, be sure that when you wash to wash full loads, but too full as it could take longer to wash and could possibly require a second washing. You should also clean the lint screen in your dryer every time or at least every other time. It will allow for airflow that is more efficient and therefore, more efficient performance.

Those are a few tips that you can put to use right now – they are cheap and easy for anyone! You’ll be amazed at what these three tips can honestly do for you in your home and how much money it can save. You may not see it immediately, but give it a little time and you’ll notice a difference, especially when you decide to go green with other areas of your home.

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Receive Tax Credits for Green Home Improvements

Mar 17 2010 Published by Adam Diver under Green Architecture, Miscellaneous

It’s that time of year again – tax time! It won’t be too long before it rolls around again – we all know it comes way too fast. If you are looking to save some money when you file next year, check out these tax credits that you may be able to receive if you make certain green upgrades to your home and lifestyle. Some you may even be able to claim this year if you qualify and the tax credit has successfully been passed.

As an individual, you can receive a tax credit by purchasing a Hybrid energy efficient vehicle. This vehicle does have to be a brand-new vehicle and cannot be a used car or it will not qualify for the tax credit. The vehicle must be bought on or before December 31, 2010. If you aren’t sure whether or not your vehicle qualifies, you can visit the IRS website and see if your vehicle is listed. The IRS has compiled a list together by year, make, and model as well as the approximate tax credit amount.

In addition, beginning this year, if you purchase an electric vehicle that plugs-in with a rechargeable battery, you may be able to claim up to a $7,500 tax credit. You may also find that you can claim your vehicles sales tax as a deduction on your filing this year on vehicles purchased after February 17, 2009 and before the end of the 2009 year.

As for residential green upgrades, if you purchase $5,000 or more in energy efficient improvements for your home then you can claim up to $1,500 – this is for 2009 and 2010 combined for the tax credit and the purchase cost. Installation charges are not included in this $5,000 but products are – windows, insulation, doors, and even some roofs. You can also claim water heaters as well as cooling and heating systems in addition to much more. As with the vehicle deduction, you can check out the IRS website in regards to the new law to see what qualifies and you can also look for the Energy Star design.

There is another credit that will be claimable through the year 2016 – the residential energy efficient property credit. This credit allows for you to take 30% of the cost of an alternative energy source, such as wind turbines or solar panels, and there is no limit on the amount that you can receive including installation.

Energy efficient home improvements and lifestyle changes can obviously make a big difference when it comes to tax time. It is definitely something to consider as you can claim tax credits, create an energy efficient home and save money for years to come.

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