Uniquity Builders, Inc.

Save Energy, California, and Get Some Money Back, Too!

Have you made a few upgrades at your house lately such as replace old, leaky windows, or upgrade to a new energy efficient air conditioning unit?  If you have, you could be eligible for a rebate from PG&E! 

Through the Energy Upgrade California program, homeowners could qualify for rebates of up to $6,500 from PG&E when energy-saving improvements are made to their homes.

The program rewards you for taking a comprehensive, whole-home approach to energy efficiency, rather than focusing on individual improvements. Heating, air-conditioning, and water heating all work together to help you live comfortably and lower your utility bills.

                            

It's fairly easy to qualify. Owners of single-family residences, two- to four-unit townhouses and condominiums, single-family homes, and two- to four-unit buildings in homeowners associations all qualify for rebates. A local contractor or rater will work with you to determine which improvements are best for your home and how to qualify for rebates.

PG&E offers suggestions to help you determine which "bundle" will best suit your home and upgrade needs. For example, if you were to upgrade your heating or cooling system, which would include the furnace or air conditioner, duct insulation, and duct sealing and/or replacement, you could earn up to $1500 in rebates!

An attic upgrade could get you up to $2500 in rebates! That would include attic insulation and air sealing, whole-building air sealing, duct insulation, and duct sealing and/or replacement. You can also create your own bundles if you don't see one that suits your needs.

As always, you can call us at 800-498-1833 to do the work needed to get your energy rebates!

California's ultimate energy goal is to reduce our emission of harmful greenhouse gases (the pollutants that cause climate change) to 1990 levels by 2020. To reach that goal, Californians must reduce their home's energy consumption by about 40%. Increase renewable energy in our utilities’ power mix to 33% and almost triple the amount of rooftop solar and other distributed power we have today. And make sure all new homes produce as much energy as they consume (called Zero Net Energy).

Visit pge.com/upgrademyhome for more information about the rebates. Also, make sure you stop by energyupgradeca.org to learn more about California's energy goals and much more.

If you found this article helpful, feel free to stop by our website at  www.uniquitybuilders.com.

Also,  be sure to "like" us on Facebook! 

How "Green" is Your Home?

You've been recycling your cans and bottles for years now, you're doing your best to use less water, especially with California's extreme drought conditions.  And you make sure you keep the lights off and use natural light that flows in from the windows whenever possible.  In short, you're doing your part to conserve, recycle and, basically, live green.  But are you doing enough?

Here's a few tweaks you can do to your home to make sure you are living as green as possible and save a little money while you're at it.  Some of these tweaks can be a bit costly up front, but you'll see the savings almost instantly.  Take a look.

• You're already a pro at saving water, but what about the hot water?  Did you know that turning the thermostat on your water heater down 5 degrees will save energy, also?  You could also install an AirTap from AirGenerate.  It's a device that conserves large amounts of energy by drawing heat from the ambient air to warm your water.  It costs around $700, but could reduce your water heating bill by up to 50%!

                          

• Keep cool and warm air from escaping your home by plugging up small holes with nontoxic spray foam.  Check for holes around wiring and pipes, and where the foundation meets the wall.  Make sure you choose a foam with no urea-based formaldehyde.  This costs less than $100 and pays for itself during the first heating or cooling season.
• Update your toilets to a dual-flush toilet.  Dual-flush can significantly cut down on your water use as opposed to conventional models which use anywhere from 3.5 to 7 gallons of water per flush.  Dual-flush toilets use as little as 0.8-1.6 gallons of water per flush!  Cost can range anywhere from $150 up to $700, depending on which brand you choose.  And you could see up to a $100 decrease on your water bill per year.
•  If you have those old school metal blinds covering your windows, it may be time to get rid of them!  In hot weather, those blinds act as a radiator because heat builds up between them and the window.  You can expect the same thing to happen with the cold air in the winter time, also.  Cellular or honeycomb shades made of fabric provide a layer of insulation.  Cost will be between $50 to $200 per shade  and can cut 10-15 percent off your heating and cooling bills per year.

You can also contact your utility company about conducting a home energy audit.  This is usually a free service they provide which will analyze everything in your home to see where else you could make changes.  By implementing the changes suggested in the audit, you could potentially cut your utility cost in half!

 

If you found this article helpful, feel free to stop by our website at  www.uniquitybuilders.com.

Also,  be sure to "like" us on Facebook!

Soirce: wholeliving.com