Kerry Veach

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If your parents were anything like mine, then you grew up in a home conscious of energy conservation.  These messages were embedded into our brains via simple four-word phrases, such as “Stop cooling the neighborhood!”, “Quit running the water!”, and “Turn off the lights!”

While the first two are still good practices, the last one might need an upgrade.  As counter intuitive as it may feel, certain light bulbs conserve more energy by being left on.

When your parents were concerned about saving electricity (and money), it was because incandescent lighting was (and is) highly inefficient.  90 percent of energy is emitted as heat, leaving only 10 percent for light.  Halogen lighting is a little more efficient than this, but not nearly as good as CFL’s and LED’s.

Compact Fluorescent Lighting has far more advanced technology than its predecessors.  You can generally extend the life of a CFL bulb by leaving it on, as opposed to simply using it less.  This is because CFL’s use more energy to power up, so just leave the light on if you plan to leave a room for less than fifteen minutes.

Light Emitting Diodes have a completely different set of rules.  These bulbs are unaffected by the number of times switched on and off.  They also reach maximum power almost instantly, unlike other bulbs which have some degree of delay.  However, the lighting capability of LED’s are not as effective as CFL’s.

To get more energy (and money) saving tips, make sure you check the Veach View Blog frequently.  And as always, if you or anyone you know would like to buy real estate in Destin, FL, or sell a home in Destin, FL, contact Kerry Veach online or call him directly at 1.800.879.0309.

With over 1,000 closings, 20+ years of experience and a full-time real estate team, it’s no surprise that 95% of Kerry’s business comes from referrals.

Destin, FL homeowners can always benefit from ways to save electricity, and one area of opportunity for huge savings is in a home office.  If you have a home office, then where you are saving on gas you could be losing on electricity if you don’t have an ENERGY-STAR computer and/or laptop.

ENERGY-STAR equipment uses up to 65 percent less power than older equipment.  In addition to purchasing energy efficient computers, it’s also advisable that you plug these units into a power strip so they can be turned off easily.  Otherwise, they will continue drawing current and wasting electricity (known as “vampire” loads).

One outdated notion is that leaving your desktop computer on is better for the machine, making it last longer.  This was true years ago with larger mainframe computers, but it is not at all the case now.  You can, however, adjust your computer’s power management settings on the cpu and monitor to use less energy while the unit is running.

If you’ll be in the market for a new purchase soon, look at laptops instead of desktop units.  Desktops use considerably more electricity than laptops, and the mobile feature of the laptop means that you are running on battery power instead of your home’s electrical current.  Here’s a helpful tip:  It’s recommended that you only plug your laptop in to charge the battery – not only will this save energy, it will also extend the life of your battery.

Make sure you check the Veach View Blog frequently to get more energy (and money) saving tips.  And as always, if you or anyone you know would like to buy real estate in Destin, FL, or sell a home in Destin, FL, contact Kerry Veach online or call him directly at 1.800.879.0309.

With over 1,000 closings, 20+ years of experience and a full-time real estate team, it’s no surprise that 95% of Kerry’s business comes from referrals.

Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

When it comes to energy efficiency through solar power, Destin, FL homes have a huge advantage.  Being in a sunny climate year round offers many more opportunities than are available in other parts of the country.  One of these opportunities is a solar water heater.

On average, a solar water heater will cut your water heating bills down by 50 – 80%.  If you’re planning on refinancing, include the price of a solar water heater in a new 30-year mortgage.  This will usually amount to between $13 and $20 per month. In addition, the federal income tax deduction for mortgage interest attributable to the solar system reduces that by about $3–$5 per month.

Now, you’re probably wondering about cost.  Not surprisingly, a solar water heater is more expensive than a conventional water heater.  However, as you just read, the savings far outweigh the additional upfront expense.  The unit itself will run just over $1,000 (depending on size, model, etc.)

If you want to estimate how much the unit will save you, you’ll need to know:  1. The system’s solar energy factor (SEF) and 2.  The auxiliary tank fuel type (gas or electric) and costs (your local utility can provide current rates).  Once you have that information, plug those numbers into the following equation:

With a gas auxiliary tank system:

You need to know the unit cost of fuel by Btu (British thermal unit) or therm. (1 therm = 100,000 Btu)

365 × 41,045/SEF × Fuel Cost (Btu) = estimated annual cost of operation

OR

365 × 0.4105/SEF × Fuel Cost (therm) = estimated annual operating cost

Example: Assuming the SEF is 1.1 and the gas costs $1.10/therm

365 × 0.4105/1.1 × $1.10 = $149.83

With an electric auxiliary tank system:

You need to know or convert the unit cost of electricity by kilowatt-hour (kWh).

365 × 12.03/SEF × Electricity Cost (kWh)= estimated annual operating cost

Example: Assuming the SEF is 2.0 and the electricity costs $0.08/kWh

365 X 12.03/2.0 X $0.08 = $175.64

Make sure you check the Veach View Blog frequently to get more energy (and money) saving tips.  And as always, if you or anyone you know is interested in buying real estate in Destin, FL, or selling a home in Destin, FL, contact Kerry Veach online or call him directly at 1.800.879.0309.

With over 1,000 closings, 20+ years of experience and a full-time real estate team, it’s no surprise that 95% of Kerry’s business comes from referrals.

Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Last week, I wrote about the benefits of landscape shading for Destin, FL homes.  This week, I’m going to focus on cool roofs.

Satisfying both meanings of the word “cool”, these roofs combine hip with energy efficiency.  A cool roof reflects the sunlight and absorbs less heat – also known as solar reflectance and thermal emittance.  They may be constructed out of a highly reflective paint, sheet covering, or highly reflective tiles or shingles.  Cool roofs average temperatures that are about 50 degrees less than that of standard or dark colored roofs.

If the difference in temperature isn’t enough to entice you, then consider these benefits as well:

• Since your air conditioning unit won’t have to work quite as hard as it would with a standard roof, you can expect reduced electricity bills.
• If many houses in the same neighborhood have cool roofs, you can expect fewer power outages during peak times due to a lower electricity demand.
• Areas outdoors (such as a patio) that are shaded by the roof, but not air conditioned, will be cooler than they would be with a standard roof.
• Since your roof isn’t taking the quite the beating it was before you upgraded, you can expect the service life of your roof to last longer.
• Because you are using less electricity, you will be contributing to a reduction in power plant emissions such as carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides, and mercury.

To learn more about cool roofs, download Guidelines for Selecting Cool Roofs from the EERE Building Technologies Program.

Make sure you check the Veach View Blog frequently to get more energy (and money) saving tips.  And as always, if you or anyone you know is interested in buying real estate in Destin, FL, or selling a home in Destin, FL, contact Kerry Veach online or call him directly at 1.800.879.0309.

With over 1,000 closings, 20+ years of experience and a full-time real estate team, it’s no surprise that 95% of Kerry’s business comes from referrals.

Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

If you’re one of the many Northwest Florida homeowners who have considered energy efficient upgrades, Green Asset Finance might be able to help you.  This Florida based consulting firm has developed a new loan program offering financing for EERE (Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy) products.  This program extends to both contractors and residents.  There is no maximum loan amount or hidden fees, and rates are competitive with flexible terms.

The best form of renewable energy that we have in Florida is solar energy.  You can use this energy to generate electricity, heat water in your home or pool, and light your home both indoors and outdoors.

Another great renewable energy source is wind energy.  You can generate your own electricity if you live on at least one acre of land that has ample wind resource using a small wind electric system.  You could even use a small wind turbine for pumping water.

If you are looking for simpler products, you should consider energy efficient home appliances.  These include clothes washers and dryers, computers, dishwashers, home audio equipment, refrigerators and freezers, room air conditioners, televisions, DVD players, and water heaters.  When you’re shopping for appliances, make sure you look for the ENERGY STAR label.  These products must adhere to strict guidelines established by the US Department of Energy and US Environmental Protection Agency.

If you’re not sure which direction to go and would appreciate the assistance of a professional, you can have a home energy assessment conducted.  This will determine how much energy your home consumes, and what changes can be made to improve your home’s energy efficiency.  The auditor will do a thorough inspection of each room, the exterior, and an examination of past utility bills.  Your local government agency or weatherization center should be able to provide a list of professional energy auditors.

The Destin, Florida area provides a great deal of “green” opportunity.  Whether you are interested in buying or selling your home here, contact Kerry Veach – Northwest Florida’s Real Estate Specialist.

Did you know that you could save big bucks by installing “green” home improvements such as an energy efficient roof and insulation, a geothermal heat pump, energy star windows and/or doors, or a small wind energy system?

Here’s the breakdown:

A small wind energy system consists of a small turbine which gets wired into your home’s electrical grid.  As the propellers turn, the turbine produces kinetic energy which is then converted into electricity.  This nifty little contraption could lower your electric bill by at least 50%, or $600/year, and can generate 30% – 80% of the electricity needed for an entire household.  It’s also eligible for a 30% tax credit for the total cost of equipment and installation.  A wind turbine is a good investment for households which average at least $150/month in electric bills.  And of course, it doesn’t hurt to live in an area that produces relatively good winds.

Don’t think that because it’s called a geothermal heat pump, it only produces heat.  In fact, a geothermal heat pump serves as a replacement for the more traditional HVAC system.  On top of that, installing one makes you eligible for a 30% tax credit.  And because it uses 25% – 50% less electricity than a traditional HVAC system, so you can save about $600/year on heating and cooling costs.

Anyone who has ever lived in a drafty home understands the importance of good windows and doors.  For storm door or standard door replacements, you can claim up to a $500 tax credit.  For storm windows or standard window replacements, you can claim up to a $200 tax credit.  For skylight replacements, you can also claim up to $200.  The only pitfall to this is that 2011 was the last year you could install to qualify for these credits.

Of course, energy efficient windows and doors will perform much better in a well insulated house.  If you added insulation to your home in 2011, you could qualify for a tax credit up to $500.

If you installed a new heat efficient metal or asphalt roof to your house in 2011, then you could qualify for a $500 tax credit.

And last, but certainly not least on the list, is a non-solar energy efficient water heater.  If you installed on of these in 2011, you can qualify for up to a $300 tax credit on equipment and installation.

To determine if the system or systems you installed qualify for the above mentioned credits, visit the Energy Star Website.  Make sure you save, or have saved, all receipts and certifications for equipment and installations.  And finally, file Form 5695 with your tax returns this year.

If you are thinking of selling or buying a home in the Northwest Region of Florida, contact The Veach Team for a complimentary consultation.

Information Source: http://www.houselogic.com/green-living/