Home and Built Environment
From Sustainable Ballard
Home & Built Environment Guild Leader:
Home
We can shift our energy use, either by reducing consumption through conservation, or by out and out changing to greener sources. Ultimately, the goal of this guild is to move Ballard away from dependence on fossil fuels toward energy independence, by putting energy back into the grid from solar or other green power, or perhaps electric vehicle to grid technology. At the outset, we urge people to take the City Light personal energy audit, or explore information at EnergyStar to reduce consumption right now. We would also like to encourage you to Get Carbon Neutral by offsetting your carbon use with a donation to a reputable agency like Native Energy.
Breaking news: Federal funds soon available for Wa. State energy programs check out the Dept.of Energy website http://www.energy.gov/7023.htm Feb. 2010, check your local utilities for current deals on insulation, weatherization, solar installations, and so on. Also,
Federal Dept. of Energy Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency
Frequently Asked Questions:
- How has the new Stimulus bill affected the tax credits for energy efficient home improvements?
- What tax credits are available in 2008 for energy efficiency home improvements?
- Are installation costs covered by the tax credit?
All Tax Credit FAQs UPDATED March 6, 2009 Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency includes:
- Tax Credits for Consumers
- Tax credits are available at 30% of the cost, up to $1,500, in 2009 & 2010 (for existing homes only) for:
- Windows and Doors
- Insulation
- Roofs (Metal and Asphalt)
- HVAC
- Water Heaters (non-solar)
- Biomass Stoves
- Tax credits are available at 30% of the cost, with no upper limit through 2016 (for existing homes & new construction) for:
- Geothermal Heat Pumps
- Solar Panels
- Solar Water Heaters
- Small Wind Energy Systems
- Fuel Cells
From : http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits
Only a certified tax professional like a CPA would be able to tell you if these tax-credirs are available to you.
Please talk to your tax advisor before signing a contract, to have measures installed.
The following websites may give you all the information you need to start your own audit:
http://eere.typepad.com/energysavers/2008/09/energy-audits.html
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A00EED81038F933A05756C0A964948260
www.seattle.gov/light/conservation
IF YOU WANT SPECIFIC HANDS ON HELP, LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET ENOUGH INTEREST TO START SOME WORK TEAMS TO DO CAULKING AND WEATHERSTRIPPING. Let me know at andrea@sustainableballard.org
BLOWERDOOR GUIDED DIY AIRSEALING
Following the Whittier Heights special see above we are planning to do blowerdoor guided Do it Yourself work-parties to air-seal your own home in under 8 hours. You sign up with 2 or 3 of your neigbors. We visit your home, test for leaks and show you where the leaks are, we teach you how to caulk and foam seal the leaks. Then we go help your neighbor do the same and then your other neighbor. In the afternoon we will come back with the machine to test how well you did, and give you more instruction if needed. Because setting up the 100 Lbs blower-door is a little bit of a hassle and we dont want to break it completely down and load it in the car an unload it again, your neighbors really have to be next door or across the street. You also have to buy your own foam and caulk under $ 50.00 and wear some clothes that you feel ok about if they get dirty and stained. Did you know that in some older homes airleaks can be up to 25 % of your heatloss and be a great spoiler of comfort with drafts around your slippers or the back of your neck. Let me know if you are interested
Jangra@mindspring.com
Citizen Climate Lobby http://www.citizensclimatelobby.org/
In cooperation with the Greenwood/Phinney Climate Action Now group, we have formed a lobby to work on legislation to stop global warming. The current effort is around promoting a federal carbon tax instead of cap and trade programs that are much more complex and difficult to manage.
The group meets the first Saturday of each month to hear talking points for the month from experts in the field. For more information contact Anne Engstrom at achelan@aol.com to find out about this effort.
andrea@sustainableballard.org
Built Environment
What ideas can we come up with for projects and/or urban planning involvement. Ideas can range from involvement in the revitalization of 14th Ave NW to weatherstripping your home. What are the 'safe' and environmentally responsible materials one can use for construction? Are you interested in solar? Would a tool library and or labor trade list be used? How does one build sustainably? How does this build community? Urban sprawl, what keeps people in? Are you interested in a project to involve the homeless and share skills? What is this Guild's mission and how would we tie into other Guilds? I would like to hear YOUR ideas. Think about how you could be involved....from listening and learning to heading up you own project. Please join us for any of our events, projects or meetings!! Questions? Contact Bridget Smith bridget AT sustainableballard DOT org
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