{"id":394,"date":"2016-07-18T16:42:01","date_gmt":"2016-07-18T16:42:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/69.36.165.54\/~wheatland\/wp\/?p=348"},"modified":"2016-07-18T16:42:01","modified_gmt":"2016-07-18T16:42:01","slug":"energy-efficiency-common-dollars-and-cents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wheatlandhomes.com\/home\/index.php\/2016\/07\/18\/energy-efficiency-common-dollars-and-cents\/","title":{"rendered":"Energy Efficiency Common (Dollars and) Cents"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\"WCH.energy\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Two of the most popular buzz phrases these days are \u201cgreen\u201d and \u201cenergy efficiency.\u201d In fact, they have become so much a part of our everyday lives that we, as a community, have become immune to them. Everyone and everything are \u201cgoing green\u201d and becoming \u201cmore energy efficient.\u201d You see it on hybrid buses, billboards, and even in pet food stores.<\/p>\n

Personally, I think it is commendable that we, as a society, are becoming more environmentally conscious \u2013 that we want to conserve resources for future generations (and preserve our wallets, too). However, when talking energy efficiency in your home, you need to use some common sense. There are many products and services out there that will indeed make your home more energy efficient. But you need to ask yourself: Does it make sense right now? And will my return on investment truly be seen by me?<\/p>\n

Common (dollars and) cents with a home energy audit<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A home energy audit is the first step any homeowner should take to evaluate how much energy your home consumes and what steps you can take to make your home more efficient. The home energy audit will show you problems that may, when corrected, save you significant amounts of money over time. The audit pinpoints where your house is losing energy, and what measures you can take to correct those problems.<\/p>\n

The audit also determines the efficiency of your heating and cooling systems, and may also show you ways to conserve hot water and electricity. You can perform the audit yourself, although I recommend you invest in a professional audit for this one reason alone: When completed by a professional, you\u2019ll receive a report showing you exactly where you can make the most cost-effective improvement to your home.<\/p>\n

A professional home auditor uses a variety of technologies to verify the home\u2019s energy efficiency. Auditors use blower doors and infrared cameras to determine leaks in the home\u2019s envelope and in hard-to-detect areas where insulation is missing.<\/p>\n

\"WCH.comfortable<\/p>\n

Common (dollars and) cents with home remodeling and additions<\/strong><\/h2>\n

For those homeowners who are entertaining the idea of remodeling or building an addition to their homes, there are now several government tax credits available for home improvements in 2009. These tax credits come from the stimulus bill (The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009), signed into law by President Obama in February. Here is a summary:<\/p>\n