Newsletters: March-April 2009
Heat Up, Utilities Down
Natural Times March/April 2009
By Jennifer Bronson
Summer is fast approaching and with it will be heat waves! As utility costs rise, homeowners are looking for easy and cost effective ways to weatherize their homes. There are a lot of improvements a homeowner can do themselves including checking in with the City of Tallahassee Utilities. Their many Energy Smart Plus saving programs are designed to help save both energy and money. The first place to start would be at Talgov.com for a list of rebates for home improvements. This list includes programs such as the ceiling insulation rebate. This program pays 80 percent of installation costs up to a maximum city contribution of $400. Since as much as half or even more of the energy used in the home goes to heating or cooling, there is also a program specifically for central air conditioners that gives a $100 to $350 rebate for Energy Star qualified equipment. Energy Star is a joint program between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, which helps homeowners save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products.
Summertime often sparks images of days at the beach, sports in the park, and gardening, all of which increase the amount of dirty clothes and the need for cool drinks and frozen snacks! Luckily, Energy Star qualified clothes washers use approximately 40 percent less energy and 55 percent less water than standard washers and are given a $100 rebate. For Energy Star refrigerators there is a $75 rebate, and a $40 rebate for freezers.
All of these improvements are for inside the house but there is one easy, cheap improvement for the outside: plant a tree. Deciduous trees, the kind that lose their leaves in the winter, are a perfect choice for keeping summer sun off the house. When planting a tree close to the house, be sure to consult with a professional nurseryman to find a tree that will reach an appropriate size and to determine the ideal planting location (not too close to the foundation). Deciduous trees do double duty by providing cool shade in the summer and allowing the winter sun to heat the house. All of these ideas can help with some needed cost relief from utility bills and are easy enough for any homeowner to accomplish!
