This month’s annual Cost vs Value report showed that replacement projects win over remodeling projects year after year. It also showed that 21 of the 35 projects create easy opportunities to add a bit of energy efficiency while you improve your home.
That got me thinking, how easy is it for the average American to connect with a one-stop shop for efficiency done right? One-stop shop means the full package:
- Great advice on how to add efficiency when remodeling
- Access to quality contractors
- Guidance to earn tax credits and incentives
- Loan products to finance the work
- A report or certificate of quality assurance at the end to confirm things were done right
Luckily, two programs have exploded nationally in 2011, the DOE’s Better Buildings Neighborhood Program and the EPA’s Home Performance with Energy Star. The programs differ a bit and vary by city and state, but the majority package together the steps above, making it a no-brainer for home owners that want to improve the efficiency of their home.
The maps below show just how much coverage these programs offer! 41 states now have a Better Buildings program (green), Home Performance with Energy Star (Aqua) or both (gray). And the coverage looks amazingly similar overall to Verizon’s 4G coverage network!
