Great article in the Elmhurst Press today about Elmhurst Cool Cities Coalition’s effort to make it easier to make older Elmhurst homes more energy efficient. Whether you live in Elmhurst or not, great background on why it makes sense to pay attention to the comfort and efficiency of your home today.
For a step-by-step overview of [...]
Well, if you live in Elmhurst, no…not right now. The Chicago Tribune is reporting that ComEd mailed letters to potential Smart Meter pilot customers this week. Pilot communities include Bellwood and Hillside and other towns in Cook County. The meters will allow homeowners to assess nearly real-time energy use and even compete against other users [...]
Last week, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity selected the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance to oversee a new incentive program for Illinois homeowners. Illinois Home Performance with ENERGY STAR will package the how-to, the who-can-do-it and consumer rebates and financing to make Illinois homes more efficient! More information will be available as the [...]
Join the Elmhurst Park District and Elmhurst Cool Cities Coalition for a FREE workshop. Discover why the typical Elmhurst home uses more energy than the average home in Chicagoland. And learn about a budget-friendly approach to make your home more comfortable while you cut your energy bills and make Elmhurst a cooler place to live! [...]
What the heck is PITITUM???! PITI is a common mortgage term and stands for Principal, Interest, Taxes & Insurance. But I have started advising homeowners to get on the PITITUM bandwagon and get a more realistic handle on their budget, and what they can afford…
PITITUM = Principal + Interest + Taxes + Insurance + Transportation + Utilities + Maintenance
I [...]
Vice President Joe Biden announced yesterday that the Chicagoland Metropolitan Agency for Planning received a $25 Million grant for a home energy efficiency program. The program will cover homes stretching from the City to Rockford. The goal is to help 9500 buildings reduce energy use by 30% over the next 3 years, and add 2000 [...]
Measuring energy usage it the 5th step in the 5×10 Challenge and the glue that holds things together. Measuring gives you a baseline to start from, inspires you to do better, helps you find room for improvment and tells the story so you can get more value out of your improvements when you sell.
Measuring your [...]
The tagline for my business is “sage living” – be smart (sage) about going green! My favorite sage way to go green is through a home energy-efficiency retrofit. It’s the best way to make an impact with fewer dollars.
I recently learned about the “Pyramid of Conservation” which ranks green projects from highest to lowest complexity. [...]
Remember, ENERGY STAR appliance rebates in the State of Illinois will be available with purchases beginning April 16th until April 25th (or sooner if the funds run out). ENERGY STAR dishwashers are eligible for a 15% rebate at the register. Some manufacturers and retailers may be offering additional rebates.
If you are planning to purchase a [...]
If you are shopping for a new washing machine to earn an ENERGY STAR appliance rebate later this month, here are some things to consider.
* First, a note on dryers. The nature of a dryer means they are not ENERGY STAR rated. However, buying a dryer with a moisture sensor does help conserve energy.
* Another [...]