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Everyday Solar Power Possibilities June 16, 2010
By Stephanie Streeter
 

Solar power is unfortunately often thought of as something that’s not practical for mainstream usage.  But, there’s good news!  Companies like Lennox Industries are creating attainable everyday systems for harnessing this free green energy source.  The creation of practical systems for average home owners will assist in bridging the gap between green-friendly and green-affordable.

Lennox Industries has introduced a solar powered central heating and cooling system called SunSource.  The main platform of the system consists of a solar ready air conditioning system, heat pump, and roof-installed solar modules.  The best news regarding SunSoure is that the system can be phased into an existing home gradually.  Anywhere from 1 to 15 solar modules can be installed, and both the panels and A/C or heat systems can be added separately.  This will allow St Petersburg home owners to convert to the system at their own pace and, more importantly, according to their own budget.

In addition to powering heating and cooling, SunSource also has the potential to provide electricity to power appliances and the lights in your St Petersburg home.  The more panels added, the more power available.   Another great feature of the product is the communication panel, which allows a home owner to view the performance of the system and its various elements.  A curious home owner can easily track home much energy their solar panels are producing with 24/7 access, and also see carbon offsets.

Interesting in learning more about SunSource for your St Petersburg home?  See a sample home setup and view an informational video from Lennox here.

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Homes To Celebrate Earth Day In April 22, 2010
By Stephanie Streeter
 

The Earth is in our hands - Earth Day Celebration

In celebration of Earth Day, we thought it would be a good idea to show you some local homes that were made to celebrate the day in.  Green homes reduce their impact on the environment by using earth friendly materials, operate efficiently in the use of utilities, and are just plain healthy to live in.  We’ve included some explanations of green building and certification programs applicable to our area, and links to view great homes in the area that qualify. How about investing in a green home this Earth Day?  It’s the gift that keeps on giving.

Green Leaf Accent MarkFirst, lets review the Florida Green Building Coalition‘s program.  The FGBC developed their Green Home Standards in order to have a standardized criteria for designating homes as green.  The program is in line with their mission “to lead and promote sustainability with environmental, economic, and social benefits…”  The organization provides a checklist and reference guide on their website for home owners and builders to determine a home’s green qualifications.  To learn more about the program and how a new or existing home can be designated by the Coalition as green, please visit their website.  A search of homes in the area showed about 20 homes for sale that meet these guidelines.

View Hillsborough County homes for sale which are FGBC certified by clicking here.
View FGBC certified homes in Pinellas County which are currently for sale by clicking here.

Green Leaf AccentNext, there is the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program developed by the U.S. Green Building Council.  This program provides verification that a home was designed and built using tools and ideas which improve the home’s efficiency in the use of energy and water, reduce CO2 emissions, are sensitive to the impact on natural resources, and generally improve the quality of the interior environment.  The USGBC’s program is flexible, and can apply not only to homes but to commercial buildings as well.  For more information on the program and how to qualify a home, visit the program’s website.  Presently, only two homes for sale in the Tampa Bay area are listed as LEED certified but we hope that more will join their ranks in the future.

View the two LEED certified Hillsborough County homes currently for sale by clicking here.

Green Leaf AccentLast, but certainly not least there is a green friendly option for your yard!  The Florida Certified Yard program was developed by a partnership consisting of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Yards & Neighborhoods,  SW Florida Water Management District, MyFlorida, and the University of Florida’s IFAS Extension, in order to educate residents about Florida-friendly landscaping which reduces the impact on our local environment.  For information on the “Smart Way To Grow” in Florida, residents and home owners can visit FloridaYards.org to access tips, a database of recommended plants, and a great interactive yard planner.  For those who wish to take the next step and have their yard designated as Florida Certified, more information is available here.

Best of all, homes can be identified as “green friendly” with these designations we’ve discussed when listed for sale through the Multiple Listing Service (MLS).  The MLS allows Realtors to select these options along with a few others.  This means that home owners who have taken the time and consideration to make their homes green friendly  are able to attract the environmentally conscious buyers that will appreciate it.

*Note – The links to view properties included in this post will only return results as long as the specific properties featured remain on the market.

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Better Windows & Insulation Mean Better Returns April 2, 2010
By Stephanie Streeter
 

St Petersburg HomeWith April 15th approaching quickly, our tax returns are fresh in our minds.  Many of us may be wishing that we would have done more to gain possible credits during 2009.  While it’s too late to help with the possible pain inflicted by this year’s Form 1040, it isn’t too late to start planning what you can do in 2010 to make next year’s better.  Improvements to your St Petersburg home, for example, could result in some relief.

Saving energy doesn’t only help the environment.  It also helps your checkbook when those monthly bills come in, and could possibly mean a helpful deduction come next April.  Yes, there are tax credits available for saving energy that could be good for up to $1,500 – and some possibly beyond that.

Part of a federal stimulus package passed last year, The Existing Home Retrofit Tax Credit covers a wide variety of options in regards to home-improvement projects resulting in energy savings.  Installing certain types of windows in your St Petersburg home could make you eligible.  Upgrading your air conditioning system or switching to alternative energy sources could mean even higher potential tax credits.

The available credit for upgrading to approved energy efficient products like insulation, siding, doors, windows, roofing, etc. is 30% of the cost (excluding installation) up to $1,500.  For example, if an owner replaced windows and insulation in their St Petersburg home for a total materials cost of $4,000, the tax credit could reduce the cost to $2,800. 

Please keep in mind – this is tax law.  There are always details and exclusions.  To make sure you get the most out of the available credits, contact your tax professional before embarking on a project.  To get more information on these available credits, please visit EnergyStar.gov, or NAHB.org/efficiencytaxcredit.

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Make Every Drop Count April 1, 2010
By Stephanie Streeter
 

Homes In Pinellas CountyIn February, the EPA announced the finalized release of its WaterSense program.  The new specification was created in order to encourage builders and home owners to protect the future of our nation’s water supply through efficiency.  WaterSense is the first voluntary national program of its kind and compliments existing popular green building programs like the US. Green Building Council’s LEED program.  While developed over the past three years primarily as a specification program for new home construction, the basic principles can be applied in any existing home as well.

New homes in Pinellas County and other Tampa Bay areas built to WaterSense specifications would be 20% more efficient in water use when compared to traditionally built homes – reducing water usage by as much as 10,000 gallons per year.  “These homes will save homeowners as much as $200 a year on utility bills compared to their current homes” says Peter S. Silva, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Water.   In order to qualify, each home must meet the program’s stringent criteria for performance and efficiency and be thoroughly inspected and certified by an EPA licensed provider.

Newly built homes are not the only way to join the WaterSense movement.  Owners of existing homes in Pinellas County, for example, could replace existing fixtures with those labeled with the program’s seal.  A list of approved products available nationwide can be found on the EPA’s website by clicking here.

There are approximately 1.27 million new construction homes completed each year in this country.  If all were WaterSense approved, more than 12 billion gallons of water would be saved.  If builders of homes in Pinellas county, as well as those in Hillsborough and Pasco began to participate in this EPA program, the local impact could be huge.

Although a search today on the WaterSense website did not find any local builders, government agencies, or non-profits that have become partners in the program we certainly hope that Tampa Bay will soon have a presence.  In the meantime there are plenty of vendors elsewhere in Florida and across the nation who can help.  For more information on those agencies and companies who are approved, please view the Partner List.