When you are shopping for a new home—or actually making the big move into that new house—keeping your expenses at a minimum is key. This poses a sort of catch22 situation: invest in energy efficiency upgrades when building or purchasing a new home (and enjoy those savings for years to come), or forego these improvements and be steadily bled by higher energy costs?

Luckily, energy efficient mortgages are an incredibly helpful alternative that can get you a good deal on your mortgage while also making it easier to afford those energy efficient upgrades now, allowing you to save for years and years to come!

What Are Energy Efficient Mortgages?

An energy efficient mortgage (EEM) is a mortgage that factors a home’s energy efficiency into the mortgage itself. These mortgages give borrowers the opportunity to finance cost-effective, energy-saving measures as part of a single mortgage and stretch debt-to-income qualifying ratios on loans at the same time, thereby allowing them to qualify for a larger loan amount and a better, more energy-efficient home. It’s a win-win situation!

Why Should You Get One?

Aside from the fact that you could get a better deal on your mortgage, why would you want to choose an EEM? Here are a few statistics that demonstrate just how lucrative energy efficiency can be in your home:

• Heating and cooling costs account for 50—70% of total energy costs in the average American home. So there are tons of opportunities for savings.
• About 60% of existing homes don’t have proper insulation. Upgrading your insulation can save you a lot of energy, so it is a great place to start your home improvements!
• Programmable thermostats can save about 2% on heating bills and more than 3% on cooling bills. That translates to roughly $180 a year!

History

In 1992, the Department of Housing and Urban Development initiated the Energy Efficient Mortgages (EEMs) as a pilot demonstration in five states. Then in 1995, the program was expanded to a national program.

Under the EEM program, the Federal Housing Administration insures a borrower’s mortgage used to purchase or refinance their home, and the cost of energy efficiency improvements to be made to their home. Click here to learn more about energy efficient mortgages!

Check out the rest of our Bright Insights blog for more information on renewable energy and energy efficiency advice!

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Aside from making your house look charming, upgrading your house’s siding can increase your energy efficiency by ensuring that your home is protected from the elements, making it easy to temperature control. This follows the same reasoning for using insulation: keeping the weather outside rather than inside makes it easier and cheaper to regulate your home’s internal temperature.

As with all investments, you’ll have to sink the initial cost, but you’ll begin enjoying those sweet, sweet savings in no time at all!

Vinyl siding is the standard, so we won’t dwell on the pros and cons here—you’re likely already aware of them. However, here are some great energy efficient and eco-friendly alternatives to consider if you choose to upgrade your siding:

Insulated vinyl siding

This variety of insulation is very similar to standard vinyl siding, but with one key exception— it also contains an extra layer of foam insulation. Remember what we said earlier about insulation?

Insulated vinyl siding does not require as much maintenance as regular vinyl siding and will stand the test of time while making your home more temperature controlled. The downside is the hefty price tag.

Fiber-cement siding

Fiber-cement siding is made of natural materials like sand, clay, wood-pulp fibers, and cement. It is very durable, resistant to rot, flame retardant, and even termite proof!

This variety of siding is incredibly low maintenance and durable, but since it isn’t as insulated as insulated vinyl siding, it won’t drive down your bills as much. However, there’s still an argument to be made for investing in siding that could last for a very long time and therefore save you money!

Wood siding

Wood siding is an incredibly eco-friendly option compared to its competitors, as it can be reused and recycled for other purposes. If you want to use wood siding, make sure that the siding you choose was produced by a sustainable, managed forest association.

The main downside is maintenance, chiefly staining to keep that wood protected from the elements and looking sharp.

Check out the rest of our Bright Insights blog for more information on renewable energy and energy efficiency advice!

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Here are a few convenient tips to increase the energy efficiency of your gardening and landscaping efforts this summer:

• Plant, water your plants, and do general landscaping activities when it is cool outside. The EPA recommends doing these things in the early morning, as that is generally the coolest time of day during the summer.
• Collect rainwater and use it to water plants—it’s effectively free water!
• Mulching around your plants is a great way to reduce water loss, as well as making it harder for water-stealing weeds to thrive. Aside from purchasing mulch, you can use pine needles or compost. You can even use your grass clippings and fallen leaves in flower and vegetable gardens. Inorganic options include landscaping paper, rocks, and pebbles. However, these aren’t well suited for all climates—they can overheat in very warm parts of the country.
• Adjust how you manage your lawn. The typical suburban lawn can soak up over 20,000 gallons of water each year, but it doesn’t have to be that much! Choose varieties of grass that don’t require as much water. For example, Bermuda and buffalo grass require 20% less water than fescue, bluegrass, and other cheaper options. What’s more, keeping your grass a bit longer will shade roots and slow evaporation. To get this, you can mow less often, and when you do mow, raise the height of your mower blade.
• After mowing your lawn, leave the clippings around in your yard as a natural fertilizer for your grass.

Visit the rest of our Bright Insights blog for more energy efficiency advice!

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Netflix is by far the most popular online media-streaming app, and it is gaining popularity. It isn’t alone, as Amazon Instant Video, Hulu, YouTube Red, and others are competing in the same space.

There are many apps that are great at increasing energy efficiency, but should we count Netflix as one of them?

The answer appears to be yes! The good news for energy consumers is that these streaming apps are actually incredibly energy efficient when compared to other methods of consuming the same types of media.

Energy Efficiency of Netflix and Streaming Apps

According to a study from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Americans streamed 3.2 billion hours of video, which consumed an amount of energy equivalent to 175,000 American households for one year in 2011.

The researchers found that the energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions associated with streaming videos was roughly comparable to having DVDs mailed to one’s home and consumed that way—think the early days of Netflix.

However, if media is consumed via DVD in any other way (picking up a Redbox movie, driving to the local video store, or purchasing a movie at a big box store), then the associated travel increases the energy use and carbon emissions, making streaming the better choice.

Now, a lot has changed since 2011, and streaming appears to have become the top dog when it comes to media consumption. As technology becomes more and more energy efficient, steaming apps will continue to become a better choice for energy efficiency and eco-friendliness.

What’s more, one should consider the environmental impact of the company they are choosing for their streaming service or the store they are commuting to when purchasing DVDs or Blu-rays. Netflix, for example, makes a point of purchasing renewable energy credits and receiving a significant percentage of their electricity from renewable energy sources.

Click here to learn more about how Netflix has made an effort to offset their carbon emissions with renewable energy!

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Check out this condensed list of energy consumer rights, and know your rights!

Comment submission

Most states provide their residents the option to submit comments on proposed changes in rates or service. This can generally be done by mail, email, or online. Contact your electricity retailer in your area to obtain the information in your state!

Transparent Bill Statements

As an energy consumer, you’re allowed to know how much you are being charged for your electricity and just how much electricity your home has consumed. One benefit of this transparency is that it helps you keep your supplier completely honest; if you know your electricity rate, then you can measure your home’s energy usage manually (by reading your electricity meter). This lets you do a rough calculation of what your energy bill should look like.

Electricity meter readers

Employees from your electricity supplier are required to provide proper identification when they request to read your electricity meter—that is, if you ask them to. Once they have done so, they are allowed to take a reading of your meter. 

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

This program helps keep qualifying low-income families safe and healthy through initiatives that help them pay their energy bills. Visit the Office of Community Services website to learn about eligibility criteria and to see if your family qualifies!

Shut-off protection

Many states protect their customers from a loss of energy service (even if you’re behind on your bill) when the weather becomes extremely cold or extremely warm. The thought here is that you are always protected from dangerous extremes in temperature, period.

Disconnection notice

Another right is disconnection notice, where an energy consumer is notified that their electricity will be shut off before their service is taken away. This allows energy customers to seek financial assistance if they are having trouble paying their bills, or look for a new supplier without being left in the dark.

Check out the rest of our Bright Insights blog for more information on renewable energy and energy efficiency advice!

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Two of the most common ways that people stay cool during the summer are jumping in the pool or by relaxing inside and enjoying the air conditioning. These are both great options, each of which has their pros and cons…but which is more energy efficient?

Swimming Pool

When it comes to strictly electricity costs, the vast majority of your pool’s energy costs come from operating the pump. A fairly conservative estimate for your pool pump’s energy requirements puts the cost at $240 per year, or roughly $20 per month. While this number is competitive with air conditioners just by itself, there are many ways to increase the energy efficiency of your pool pump and make this cost even more affordable!

Realistically speaking, the other costs associated with properly maintaining a pool year round can drive the overall price tag of pool ownership up quite a bit. However, if you have both an air conditioner and a pool, your best bet for energy savings is to keep that air conditioner off as much as you can and use your pool instead!

Air Conditioner

The amount of energy that your air conditioner consumes depends on a few factors: what kind of model you have (measured in British Thermal Units or BTUs), how often you turn your air conditioner on, and what settings you’re using.

As a starting point for our calculations, let’s assume that you have a 6,000 BTU air conditioner, which can cool a room of up to 260 square feet. This air conditioner would cost roughly $73 per month at an average electricity rate if it were running constantly, or $36 per month only running for 12 hours per day—a much more reasonable figure. Assuming that you will be cooling more than one room of your house—and that your rooms will be bigger than 260 square feet—the costs will likely be much higher.

That said, air conditioners are much cheaper than owning and operating a pool. What’s more, swimming pools aren’t an option for homeowners with limited yard space, renters without permission to install a pool, or apartment dwellers.

Even though a swimming pool uses less electricity by and large, don’t discount the convenience and availability of air conditioners!

Thinking of buying an energy efficient pool pump or a new air conditioner? Make your purchase with the Star Energy Rewards app to receive cashback on your purchase!

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With these great tips, you can keep your energy costs down while you go about those chores around your home.

Chores

• When doing your laundry, try to dry your clothes outside. Also, run your washer with cold water whenever your load will allow it.
• Instead of running your vacuum cleaner, attempt to use a carpet sweeper on your carpeted areas and a broom on your hard surfaces. Since they are manually powered, it won’t cost you a dime!
• Adjust your habits to naturally consume less energy. For example, cook simplistic dishes in your kitchen (thereby reducing the amount of dishes you have to clean), or create less laundry by re-wearing clothing that’s not dirty. According to the American Cleaning Institute, jeans can be worn three times before washing! 

Reduce Cost of Chores

• Cut your own grass instead of hiring a landscaping company. This will save you a lot of money in the long run, though it will require an initial investment. If you choose this route, be sure you’re using an energy efficient lawnmower!
• Ditch the carwash and wash your own car at home. This will provide you with the opportunity to implement water-saving techniques and to ensure that you are using environmentally friendly products on your car. Plus—no fumbling around with quarters!
• Performing general housing maintenance like changing your furnace filter and fixing leaky faucets and running toilets can absolutely save you a lot of money. While you’re at it, consider making some energy efficiency upgrades to save on your energy bills in the future.

Check out the rest of our Bright Insights blog for more information on renewable energy and energy efficiency advice!

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What are Insulated Windows?

Insulated windows are reinforced in one way or another to keep the elements outside, making it much easier to regulate the temperature in your home.

There are many different varieties of insulated windows, including:

• Double-glazing: These windows use two different thicknesses of glass that are separated by a pocket of air in between to naturally improve insulation. In the past, double-glazed windows would result in condensation between the panes, but this is now quite uncommon.
• Triple glazing: Triple glazing follows the same principles as double-glazing, except it utilizes an additional pane of glass in the middle. This type of window is more popular in northern regions where proper insulation is a must!
• Low-E glass: This is a clear coating that is applied to one side of the glass in dual-pane windows. The E in Low-E stands for emissivity, the measurement of a surface’s ability to absorb or reflect radiant energy. The lower your emissivity score, the better your window will be at insulating heat loss.
• Argon gas fill: Another top-tier option is to have argon gas installed between two panes of glass. This provides the same isolative properties without obstructing your view of the great outdoors!

Why Should You Invest in Insulated Windows?

Insulated windows save you money largely by following one simple principle: temperature control. Any form of insulation in your home will help to keep the elements outside, and creates a more controlled environment inside. This is important because it makes it much easier to manipulate the temperature in your home without having to spend a lot of energy.

For more specifics on how temperature control from insulated windows can save you money, check out this post from Ways2GoGreen Blog!

Want some further reading? Click here to learn more about insulation and energy efficient windows for your home!

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The Joys of Telecommuting

It’s important to note that just the simple commitment to telecommuting to work can save you a lot of money by itself. These savings come from not having to pay for gas and maintenance on your vehicle each day, which can slowly add up to big savings and keep your personal carbon footprint down. Here are just a few reasons why telecommuting is great for your wallet and the environment:

• 2 million telecommuters in the US save approximately 10 million barrels of oil just by nixing their daily commute (often an average of 35 miles round-trip.)
• One study found that the average American spends 4% of their annual budget (an average of $2,900 per person) on their commute. Just imagine what you could do with an extra $3,000 a year in your wallet!

Other Ways to Increase Energy Efficiency

• Embrace digital technology and go paperless! By telecommuting you’ll already be using your computer, so try to consolidate everything you can to the digital realm instead of using paper. Think bill statements, regular correspondences, and especially personal note-taking!

• Take advantage of natural light to cut down on your lighting costs. Not only will this keep you from wasting energy by keeping your lights on all day, but relying on natural light will organically keep you from overworking yourself and burning the midnight oil. Remember: work-life balance is important, too!

• Power down your workstation once you are done for the day. You’ll save energy by keeping it off during non-business hours and it’ll keep you from being tempted to do extra work or check email in the evenings.

• If reasonably possible, adjust your computer’s settings and run it in low power mode. Try to consume as little energy as possible with your home workstation.

If you’re feeling inspired to upgrade your home office, then you should consider buying your supplies with the Star Energy Rewards app to earn lots of cashback on your purchases!

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What do they do?

As their names suggest, a humidifier adds humidity (moisture) to the air in your home, while a dehumidifier removes humidity. Depending on the season, climate, and your specific needs, purchasing one of these two useful devices might be a good idea

How to Choose a Dehumidifier

For a dehumidifier, size is by far the most important factor. Their size is measured in the capacity of moisture they can remove from the air during one 24-hour period. For example, a 30-pint dehumidifier removes 30 pints of water from the air in that room each day.

Sylvane has an awesome sizing chart on their website for choosing the right size of dehumidifier for each room in your house—check it out!

There are also other factors that can increase the strength of the dehumidifier you should choose. For example, it is recommended that you add 5 pints (each) to the recommended size of your unit if any of these conditions apply:

• Multiple people live or regularly spend time in the room.
• There are multiple doors and windows in the room.
• There’s a washer and/or dryer nearby.
• If you live in a particularly humid climate, add 10 pints!

How to Choose a Humidifier

First, you need to know about the two different types of humidifiers: warm mist and cool mist. While there is no significant difference between the two in terms of performance, they do add moisture to the air in different ways. Given that it is highly recommended that you regularly clean out your humidifier (to ward off growing bacteria), you might make your decision between warm and cool based on how easy the unit is to clean.

Like with dehumidifiers, size matters. You’ll want to purchase an appropriately sized humidifier for the room you’ll be using it in. Here are some general rules of thumb to follow:

• Small unit: room of <300 square feet
• Medium-sized unit: room of 300–499 square feet
• Large unit: room of 500–999 square feet
• Extra large unit: room of 1,000+ square feet

Beyond choosing a type and size, there are a few other options that you might want to consider:

• Do you want any extra bells and whistles, like a humidistat or a timer?
• Will noise be a factor? Be careful if you’ll be putting your unit in a room where you’ll be sleeping!
• As with dehumidifiers, choose models that are easy to clean and maintain.
• Are you a stickler for choosing the best name brand? Some good names to look for are Crane, Essick, Holmes, Honeywell, Hunter, and Vicks!

Thinking of investing in a humidifier or dehumidifier? Make your purchase using the Star Energy Rewards app to earn cashback!

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