In celebration of #EarthDay I thought it was in order to write about some of the myths that still exist about green building. As a custom builder and remodeler of energy-efficient and healthy, so called "green" homes, clients always ask…

1. Are green homes or remodeling projects more expensive?
   The short answer is: NO! They can be, but they don’t have to be. Green building is not about using fancy expensive materials, or all renewable energy systems. Green building is all about applying sound building science principles in design and execution of your project. This means designing and building a home correctly for it’s site and climate conditions. Fron there, clients can go a step further and incorporate material upgrades and renewable energy systems if they choose to.
    
2. All the green homes I always see on TV look weird and different! Can I build a green home, but not a "weird" looking home?
   Green homes don’t look any different than any other home or structure. Please understand that on TV, you are always shown the "extreme" – in technology AND design. An energy-efficient, green home can be of any architectural style, it can be a modern home, a tradition french style or any architectural style you desire. Modifications should be made with certain architectural styles to accomodate proper design for the climate zone your home is built in. 
    
3. If I install a tankless hot water heater, bamboo floors and recycled material countertops, will I make my home green?
   NO! You are making better material and component choices than most other people make. But if you truly want to make your home more efficient and healthy to live in, there are many other things you should do first. Making a home healthier and more efficient requires a systems approach. This means establishing a plan so you can have measurable results of the improvements you make. Hire a knowledgeable and certified professional to establish a plan and design for your project.

 Written by:

Marc Kleinmann
EGC Custom Homes
http://DallasGreenBuilding.com
m.kleinmann@EGCDallas.com 
  

Or is it? There is a lot in the news lately about whether this whole Green Movement is based on a hoax or not.  My take on that as far as Green Building goes is, “What does it matter?”  Sustainable development makes sense all the time, not just because it’s a fad or that its popularity has resulted from government policies and concern about Climate Change.

Building more energy efficient housing saves consumers money through lower utility bills and extends existing energy supplies.  Using re-manufactured products or products from forests with sustainable replenishment policies also extends the life of valuable resources.

Reducing product waste helps extend the life of existing landfills in population centers with growing communities.

So building Green saves money, is smart and contrary to what Kermit says, “It is easy being Green”

Blog Written by:Wesley Scott
wes@archwaysandceilings.com
www.archwaysandceilings.com

As a new member of the Dallas Green Building Alliance, I was picked to start off our weekly blogs for the month of February. Sunday morning rolled around and my blog was due Tuesday, so I was starting to sweat it! Well as I was sitting at my breakfast table, drinking a cup of coffee sifting my way through the World Wide Web, an idea dawned on me. “That’s it!” I said to myself. My first blog has to be about a green system that will put some cash back into the consumer’s wallet. Instantly, net metering came to mind.

What is Net Metering? It is a provision that allows consumers to connect their alternative energy source (like wind or solar power) to the electrical grid. The consumer will first use the energy they have created before consuming energy from the electrical grid. This will ultimately reduce your energy bills dramatically and relieve some of the stress on the electrical grid, especially in peak hours. The Ultimate goal with net metering is to generate enough renewable energy to self-sustain your own energy consumption. If you are supplying more than is needed, than the excess energy is fed back through your meter to the electrical grid, and you are given credit. Not to mention, to help get your started, Uncle Sam issues a tax credit of up to 30% of the total cost of the system, so you will be receiving a savings instantly!

Check out this Video on Net Metering!

Written By:

Wesley Scott

Archways & Ceilings Made Easy

www.archwaysandceilings.com

(Resources: Photos from isolarpowerforhomes.com & solar-panel-homes.net)

One of the bigger financial benefits of installing a geothermal system is the tax credit that you will be eligible to receive. When the Energy Improvement Act of 2008 was passed it offered a one time tax credit of 30% of the TOTAL investment for homeowners who install residential ground loop or ground water geothermal heat pumps. So let’s say for instance you install a geothermal system at your home and the total cost is $32,000.00 the tax credit that you will receive is $9,600.00! That’s not bad! Doing what is best for the environment and getting money back from Uncle Sam to do it!

To qualify for the credit the system must meet or exceed EnergyStar requirements and be installed after December 31,2007. Units that were installed in 2008 are subject to a $2,000.00 cap on the credit. If the unit was installed from 2009-2016 then the homeowner can take advantage of the full 30% uncapped credit. Covered expenditures include labor for on site preparation and assembly or original system installation and for piping and wiring to connect the system to the home. The structure must be located in the United States and used as a residence by the taxpayer, although primary residency is not required.

Homeowners can file for the credit by completing tax form 5695, which has yet to be published for the 2009 tax year. The tax credit can be used to offset both regular income taxes and alternative minimum taxes. If the federal tax credit exceeds tax liability, the excess amount may be carried forward into future years. The tax credit will be available until December 31, 2016.

This tax credit “The Energy Credit” can also be applied to solar-electric systems, solar water heaters, and wind turbines. If you are thinking about using alternative energy sources then this is a good time to move forward. The tax credit gives you a little bit more incentive to “Go Green” with your energy systems.

For more information and to see a draft of the Form 5695 you can visit the IRS website.

I am currently shopping for a windmill for my 5 acre property to supplement my electrical bill. when I was searching for financing options,  I stumbled upon Santee Cooper (a electrical provider in South Carolina).

A low-interest loan from Santee Cooper (current rate–1.25%),  allows you to finance energy efficient improvements and renewable energy resource projects for your home that should help you reduce your energy costs. You can apply for energy efficient improvement loans ranging from $500 to $20,000 with up to 60-months to repay loans over $1,000 or renewable energy resource loans up to $40,000 with up to 120-months to repay. All with no money down. Maximum outstanding loans per customer cannot exceed $20,000 for energy efficient loans and $40,000 for renewable energy resource loans. Combined maximum outstanding loans per customer cannot exceed $40,000.

Unfortunately these loans are only available to Santee Cooper customers in South Carolina. If anyone knows of anything like this available in Texas; please let me know.