Sweet Home Chicago

Wind Turbine on Highland Park Home

I have been working 'round the clock lately and havne't had much time to post new articles.  I came across this recent Chicago Tribune article on-line and thought I would share it. 

Highland Park homeowner installs wind turbine on his roof
Lisa Black
July 28, 2009 
 
The wind turbine saves Doug Snower $10 to $15 monthly on electricity bills. (Photo by Andrew A. Nelles, Chicago Tribune / July 27, 2009)

Doug Snower's neighbors in Highland Park stared hard when the silver and blue wind turbine first appeared on his garage roof.

While it could pass for a kinetic sculpture, the shiny, spinning device he installed a few weeks ago has generated low-voltage electricity and a steady hum of conversation.

Unlike the monstrous bladed commercial turbines that have drawn controversy over their noise and environmental impact, Snower's gadget is a quiet and modest 600-watt affair, working alongside a solar panel to supply a bank of four batteries. He uses it to power his electric lawn mower, the family's laptops, phones, cameras and a small fridge.

Snower figures he saves about $10 to $15 monthly on electricity bills and is eligible for a 30 percent rebate on federal income taxes. But he intended the $5,000 investment as more of an educational tool for his teen daughters -- as well as for curious passersby.

"At least six neighbors have come to look," said Snower, an architectural photographer who plans to serve as a Midwest distributor for the turbine's Chinese supplier.

He and his wife, Shari, added on to their house two years ago with the greenest of intentions. They are still experimenting with a partial grass roof to conserve water, a wood-burning masonry fireplace for heating and a natural air ventilation system.

About a week after Snower installed his turbine, ComEd workers replaced a transformer across the street.

"I've got them running scared," he said with a megawatt smile.

Energy Saving Tips

Here are a few new tips that I came across recently:

• Keep a pitcher of water in your fridge.  This keeps the food in there cooler and will use less energy.  Another benefit is that you'll always have some cool water available and you won't need to use the disposable plastic water bottles as much.
• If you are leaving town for vacation, unplug your appliances and electronics before you go.  Unplugging cell phone chargers, DVD players and other electronics will save you some money.  These electronics draw power even when they ar not turned on.  For even greater savings, you can plug some of these items into a power strip and turn on the power only when you are using these items. 
• Now is a terrific time to invest in energy efficient home improvements because Uncle Sam is providing tax credits for improvements made in 1009 and 2010.  So if you are considering new windows, doors, insulation, roofs, water heaters, heating or air conditioning, click here for more information.  (NOTE: A tax credit is better than a tax deduction because it comes right off of the amount of taxes you owe.)
• Chicagoland Natural Gas Savings Program - This program is offering rebates of up to $750 on insulation, $600 on boilers, $450 on furnaces, $400 on water heaters, and $100 on clothes washers.  These tend to be items that you purchase when the one you have "dies."  So if you need to replace any of these items, check out the rebate program with your gas provider.  For residents on Chicago's North Shore, visit this site for details, or call 866-964-7345.

Thank you for reading - if you have any tips or ideas that I can share with my readers, please let me know.

nsk

More Ideas for Going Green and Saving Green

If you've been shopping for a household appliance you probably saw some products displaying an ENERGY STAR label.  The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) designed the ENERGY STAR program to help consumers find the most energy-efficient products.  Any time you see a product with the EVERGY STAR label, that means that the product has been identified as being the most energy efficient product in its class - often these products substantially exceed existing minimum federal standards.  So, whenever you are out shopping for new windows, heating, air conditioning, water heaters, lighting, dishwashers, clothes washer/dryer, etc., you should look for this label.  You can save as much as 30% on your energy bills by using these products.  (No I'm not getting paid for this endorsement).

 

There is also a yellow and black EnergyGuidelabel required by the federal government that will help you compare energy efficiency of appliances.  There are two key pieces of info on these labels:  the estimated energy consumtion and the estimated yearly operating cost.

If you want to kick up your energy savings a notch, there are many things you can do to save even more energy beyond just buying efficient products.  Here are several of ideas to consider for your kitchen appliances:

• Instead of having your dish washer use energy to dry your dishes, you can turn off the the control knob on your dishwahser after the final rinse, and open the door of your dishwasher and let the dishes air dry.

• Many dishwashers have their own heating elements.  This means that you can have your hot water heater set at a lower temperature (115 degrees Farenheight is recommended) to save money, and the dishwasher can heat the water up only when it is needed.

• Cover or wrap all foods that you keep in your refrigerator.  Uncovered foods cause the unit to work harder (use more energy).

• Vacuum the condenser coils on the back of your refrigerator at least once a year (except for models that have a no-clean condenser).  Your refrigerator will run for shorter periods and save you money if the coils are clean.

• Always cover pot when you are boiling water.  It will come to a boil faster with a cover on it, so you will use less energy.

• If you are cooking with electric burners, you can turn of the burners before your food is done.  The heating element will stay hot for several minutes after it is turned off.

Watch for more energy-saving ideas soon...

Stay tuned and thanks for reading!

nsk

Tax Credits for "Green" Home Improvements

The Federal Government is providing tax credits for energy efficient home improvements as of January 1, 2009, per the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, signed by President Bush in October 2008. 

Before you start you home improvement projects, see if anything you are planning to do will qualify. (NOTE:  home improvements made during 2008 are not eligible for tax credit)

Some of the home improvements included are: windows, doors, roofs, insulation, HVAC, and non-solar water heaters.There are also tax credits available for solar energy systems,fuel cells, small wind energy system and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.  New home builders can also get credits for building energy efficient homes.   click here for more details, www.energystar.gov

Thanks for reading!

nsk

Going Green and Saving Green ($)

Greening your shopping trip

I've bought a few of those canvas shopping bags that you see everywhere these days.  I even have one that is insulated, which is great for frozen or refrigerated food items in the warmer months (not an issue right now).  Initially it was difficult for me to remember to bring my bags into the stores, but I'm getting better at that. For a big trip I also have a supply of paper bags from previous shopping expeditions.  I carry all of them into the store inside one of the canvas bags.

Taking the eco-friendly thing one step further, if I go to the meat or fish counter, I have them use a minimal amount of packaging for my purchase.  I tend to re-wrap whatever I buy, so the extra packaging they use (like those little "styro" trays) are really wasteful.

This isn't just about grocery shopping.  I've been bringing my bags into almost every store I go to.  I've gotten some strange looks, but I don't care.  If I'm just getting a couple of small items, I just tell the cashier I don't want/need a bag.

How does this save you money?  Although it may not put any coin directly in your pocket, in the long run, less bags will reduce costs at the stores, which hopefully will get passed on to us.  You already know that this helps eliminate waste going into our garbage dumps, and will save some trees.

Have you driven by a garbage dump or land fill recently?  I'll be writing more about that shortly....

Thanks for reading.

nsk

 

 

 

"Green" Remodeling Ideas

If you are planning to do any home remodeling in the near future, here are some things to consider...

TOXINS. Most people don't realize that their are toxins in many of the standard items that are in our homes.  This includes cabinets, flooring, counter tops, paint, insulation and much more.  The wood adhesive that binds together plywood found in cabinets and sub-flooring is often toxic. And, the varnish used to coat these surfaces can also be toxic.  Many commerical paints, chemicals, glues, veneers and finishes have toxic chemicals as well.  Since we spend so much time in our homes, all of these items could be causing allergic reactions or other symptions due to sensitivity to these chemicals and toxins.

There is a growing number of products that use "green" building materials, such as low toxicity plywoods, and water-based paints, adhesives and finishes.   These products are better for the environment and better for your health.  Look for woods that are from sustainably managed forests.  Or consider products that are made from recycled wood fiber particle board without the use of toxic chemicals.  

RECYCLE. Using recycled materials whenever possible is another suggestion. You can find tiles for your floors or bathroom walls made of recycled porcelain.  Or, many people are using bamboo, which is a very fast growing plant that is easily replaced (unlike wood, which take years to replace).  There is also carpeting available that is made from recycled or recyclable materials.

GRANITE ALTERNATIVE:  Before you install granite counterrops, which are so popular these days, consider these facts.  Recently granite has been linke to radon emmisions.  One alternative to That I've heard of is a terrazzo counter top  which is made from recycled glass and cast concrete.  This does not have any emissions so it won't affect your indoor door quality.  I am sure that there are and will be more alternatives on the market.

DISPOSAL. Another thing to consider is how are the old materials being disposed?  I know that it will be good for you and your family to removed the toxic materials from your home, but what impact is there on the environment when these items end up in the local garbage dump?  I don't have any answers for this question - if you have any information on this, I'd be very intersted.

This is not a comprehansive list, just a few new ideas that I came across this week.

Thank you for reading!

nsk

Eco-friendly Water Management via Rain Gardens, Cisterns, and Rain Chains

Most homes these days have gutters along the perimeter of the roof that collect rain water and send it through downspouts.  In some communities this water runoff is sent directly into the local sewer system where the water is then sent elsewhere.  In other communities the water just drains out onto the property, ideally away from the house so that it won't cause any damage to the foundation (I've seen some of the damage that poorly maintained downspouts can cause - it's not pretty).

Recently I've seen two alternative methods for handling rain water that are smart and Eco-friendly. The reason I say that they are smart is because these are very simple methods for using this free resource, rain water, instead of using up resources to send it somewhere else, or just letting it flow onto your property creating a puddle.  

The Rain Chain
According to research I've done on the Internet, rain chains originated hundreds of years ago in Japan.  They are considered a decorative alternative to regular downspouts. Here are some photos I found  - as you can see they can be very decorative.  Some of these decorative rain chains can produce pleasant sounds as the water flows down. The ones that I saw in person were very plain, just a chain hanging down from the gutters and connected to the ground where they "fed" a rain garden. 

             

 

Rain chains can drain into a variety of receptacles like basins, bowls, saucers, barrels or pebbles.  They cannot replace conventional downspouts in all situations - it is recommended that they hang away from the wall of your house by about three feet.  Not all homes have eaves that are far enough away for rain chains, through some people figure out a way to improvise and make it work. You can find more information at these sites and others:

www.rainbarrelsandmore.com   -   www.rainchain.com   -   www.harvesth2o.com/rainchain.shtml  

Rain Garden
A rain garden is an planted area filled with plants that prefer moist soil.  The rain garden should be arranged so that the water from the rain chain or a cistern flow naturally (by gravity)  into the garden and away from the house.

Cistern
When I heard that some homeowners in Highland Park were using a Cistern to capture rain water, I envisioned a big ugly tank on the property somewhere, or on the roof.  I was pleasantly surprised when I had a tour of the home and found a cistern with a beautiful stone facade at the front of the home.  This cistern collects rain water from the roof of the home - all of the gutters feed into the cistern, which can hold over 80 gallons of water. This home is situated on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan.  During heavy rains, this home is not contributing to flooding or erosion and there is no water going into the local storm sewers.  Using a low-tech gravity system, the water from the cistern is drained into a rain garden on the property by the home owner (by opening a simple spigot), and then it goes into the underground natural aquifer, as nature intended.  Since none of the other plants on the property need any watering, the cistern provides all of the water required for outside usage. No sprinkler system needed here!  (I will be writing about other Eco-friendly aspects of this lovely lake-front home in Highland Park in future posts!  The homeowners provided an inspirational tour of their home.)

If you are building a new home or remodeling you have a great opportunity to do something to help the environment - water management is just one area to consider in your plans.

I would love to hear about any other Eco-friendly ideas for utilizing rain water.  Please post your comments!

Thanks for reading!
nsk

GO GREEN: Re-use, Re-sell, Redefine usage of space

A new book store opened up in my neighborhood.   We already have plenty of book stores in the area, so I didn't really pay much attention when this one opened.... and then I heard some of my friends talking about the amount of cash they got FROM the book store for their used books!

So, my husband and I began looking on our bookshelves,in boxes, and even on the coffee table for wonderful books that we really don't look at or use any more.  They are just collecting dust. We didn't get a ton of money, but it sure felt good to these books out of the house.  And when I was at the store I saw that they also buy books on tape or CD, and used text books...I have a bunch of those, and comic books too.

Now we have some free space that we can use to store or display other items - maybe something more decorative.  Let's face it, a bunch of books on a shelf aren't all that pretty to look at.  And with the new reality of our economy, the extra cash is nice. 

There are other types of re-sale shops around, and also plenty of charitable organizations that will take your cast-offs that other people will want.  I try to be pro-active about getting rid of clothing and other household items that we aren't using.  Let's face it, at some point you're going to move from where you live now to another place.  Instead of waiting to get rid of stuff during the moving process, it is MUCH easier to do it on a regular basis.  Plus, your house will be easier to sell if you don't have a lot of clutter.  Buyers like to see roomy closets, open uncluttered space in the basement.

So, don't throw out your old stuff - let someone else use it.  And, maybe you can make some cash too. 

Thanks for reading.

nsk

Energy Efficient Mortgages!

When I first heard this term it didn't make sense to me.  How can a mortgage be energy efficient?  So, I went on a quest to find out more about this.  Basically an EEM allows you to finance as part of your mortgage the purchase of energy efficient upgrades to your home.  So, the next time you purchase a home (or refinance your current one) this might be something to consider.   Especially if you are purchasing a home that needs some updating or renovation.

My nephew Zachary Karp, a successful mortgage broker with GC Lending, gave me the skinny on what is currently available in these loans - of course this is always subjct to change.  You can always contact Zack for an update or if you have any questions.  send email to Zachary Karp. 

Here is the info Zack provided to me...

Fannie Mae got rid of their Energy Efficient Mortgage in 2006, so it is not currently available with conventional financing.

The only option is with FHA, and here are the updated guidelines directly from HUD:

Eligibility Requirements:

1. The borrower is eligible for maximum FHA-backed loan, using standard underwriting procedures. The borrower must make a 3-percent cash investment in the property. This 3- percent cash investment is based on the sales price. Closing costs are not included in the 3- percent calculation but may be used to satisfy the requirement. Any upfront mortgage insurance premium can be financed as part of the mortgage.
2. Eligible properties are one- to four-unit existing and new construction.
3. The cost of the energy-efficient improvements that may be eligible for financing into the mortgage is the greater of 5 percent of the property’s value (not to exceed $8,000), or $4,000.
4. To be eligible for inclusion in this mortgage, the energy-efficient improvements must be cost effective, meaning that the total cost of the improvements is less than the total present value of the energy saved over the useful life of the energy improvement.
5. The cost of the energy improvements and estimate of the energy savings must be determined by a home energy rating report which is done by a home energy rating system or energy consultant. The cost of the energy rating may be financed as part of the cost-effective energy package.
6. The energy improvements are installed after the loan closes. The lender will place the money in an escrow account. The money will be released to the borrower after an inspection verifies that the improvements are installed and the energy savings will be achieved.
7. The maximum mortgage amount for a single-family unit depends on its location, and it is adjusted annually. You can click here to find out FHA Mortgage amounts by county . The cost of the eligible energy-efficient improvements is added to the mortgage amount. The final loan amount can exceed the maximum mortgage limit by the amount of the energy-efficient improvements.

By the way, for those of you planning to do some rehab work, Zack Also mentioned that there is also a FHA rehab loan called the 203(K), which is starting to make a comeback.  A few of the lenders  that Zack works with have just announced they brought this program back.  It allows (for either a purchase or refinance) for the financing of up to $35,000 in repairs, and does include a provision to allow Energy Efficient upgrades.

Thanks for reading!

nsk

Going Green

Go Green!!  And I'm not talking about the Michigan State Spartans (though my son is leaving for school there shortly - now "Go Green" has two meanings for me!).

As far back as I can remember there has always been a "green" movement, but lately with all of the talk about global climate change, the high price of gasoline, and of course people trying to get or stay healthy, "going green" is getting a lot more attention these days.  There are so many different initiatives and opportunities to get greener...from the food we eat and the car we drive to, yes, you guessed it, your home!!

So, you could go out and buy a new single family home that has been built with all of the new green technology.  There are two homes for sale in Highland Park right now that, according to the builder are "Energy Star certified."  I've been in both of these homes and they are very nicely done - but they cost a lot more per square foot than other homes in the same neighborhood.  The homes are healthier for the environment and your family (better indoor air quality).  With geothermal HVAC including radiant floor heat and high performance construction, it is supposed to save you money over the long run, with lower utility bills, replacement costs, and more.  (Call me if you'd like to see either of these homes - they are very nice.)

There is also a new development of 15 homes, also in Highland Park, that includes many eco-friendly features.  For example, the street in this development is made with a special paver brick system that handles rain water in a more eco-friendly way than the typical sewer system. Also, these homes do not have regular gutters and downspouts.  They feature rain-chains that guide rain water into a rain garden instead of going directly into the public sewer system.

If you aren't quite ready to dump your current home for an eco-friendly version, what can you do now to lower your utility costs and to make a contribution to improving the environment... well, I am starting to do some research on that topic and plan to report on my findings right here on my blog.  Here are two things I've learned about recently:

Light bulbs- Just like the eco-friendly homes, the new eco-friendly light bulbs (compact fluorescent light bulbs - CFL) cost more than traditional incandescent bulbs that you are probably using.  However, they are supposed to last longer and use less energy - so they will save you some real money (see detailed information on efficiency, savings and pollution reduction at http://www.1000bulbs.com/Compact-Fluorescents/).  CFLs are simply miniature versions of full-sized fluorescent lights. They screw into standard lamp sockets, and give off light that looks just like the common incandescent bulbs - not like the fluorescent lighting you may associate with factories or schools. We've started changing our light bulbs all over our house.  I didn't realize that these new bulbs are available for all of those recessed lights we have in the house.  The only difference I've noticed is that when we turn on the lights they may be a little dim at first, but then they warm up and everything looks just fine!

Tankless Hot Water Heaters - These provide hot water only as it is needed.  The conventional type of water heater produces hot water all the time even when you are out of town on vacation - that is wasting energy and your money!  For homes that use 41 gallons or less of hot water daily, a tankless water heater can be 24% – 34% more energy efficient than conventional storage tank water heaters.You can get additional savings if you generally use more hot water, or if you can install these at every location where you actually use the hot water.  There are many different types of systems - some are electric others use gas. There may be special venting requirements too.  So next time you need to replace your hot water heater, ask about going tankless. More info for buyers is at http://www.tanklesswaterheaterguide.com/ .

If you have any eco-friendly ideas you want to share with my readers, please send them in!

Thanks for reading.

nsk