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HVAC Tax Credits: What Energy Improvements Qualify?

March 26th, 2021

As part of an initiative to reduce America’s collective carbon footprint and the strain on limited resources, the U.S. government offers tax credits to homeowners who have made energy-efficient upgrades. In fact, many home improvements that will add value to your home are eligible for federal tax credits. If you’ve installed an Energy-Star certified HVAC system , you may be eligible for the Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit on your income taxes this year. Improving your home and saving on your income taxes, now that’s a win-win. But how do you take advantage of this tax incentive? Keep reading to learn whether your HVAC system qualifies and how you can

Adolphus M. Pruitt: Addressing the access-to-capital crisis for underserved St. Louis communities

March 20th, 2021

Attention to equity and inclusion for underserved communities of color is more pronounced today than ever. In recent reporting by Peabody Award-winning journalist Aaron Glantz, some stark statistics show that discriminatory lending practices still persist. For those in the African American community, this comes as no surprise. But readers may be surprised to learn that, shockingly, the gap between African American home ownership and white home ownership is wider today than in the Jim Crow era. In fact, systemic racial biases are essentially built-in to credit score algorithms and underwriting resulting in a continuing access-to-capital crisis for underserved communities. Communities of color are disproportionately denied for lending products such as

Home Office Deduction: Guide to Home Office Tax Deduction

March 9th, 2021

In today’s world, working remotely is becoming the norm. Small businesses across the country are shuttering up their office spaces and opting to work from home. Along with this new working environment comes the need for certain adjustments. Many small business owners and self-employed individuals have opted to set up a home office to increase their privacy and keep productivity at an all-time high. If you’ve recently set up a home office , you need to know about the home office deduction. Read on to learn about this work-from-home deduction and how to calculate your deductible expense. What Are Deductions? Before we dive into the home office deduction, let’s cover

Wind turbines capture wind energy in grassy field

The Inexhaustible Guide to Renewable Energy

December 21th, 2018

Renewable energy is a popular topic these days, but that wasn’t always the case. Some of you may recall the energy crisis during the mid 1970s when lines of cars surrounded most gas stations. If you grew up during this time, you may have been under the scary impression that petroleum would run out in the very near future. The horror! As it turns out, that energy crisis was just a blip in our fossil fuel existence, and it hasn’t been much of concern since. But despite the fact that we've been able to find more ways to harvest fossil fuels, we now know about the detrimental environmental impacts, and

5 Uses of Wind Energy to Power Your Home

April 11th, 2018

Wind power produces zero emissions, and is, therefore one of the cleanest energy sources. Residential wind power can take different forms; if the conditions are right for a larger turbine, a home could potentially get most (or all) of its energy from the wind. However, you don’t have to go completely “off-grid” with wind power. Residential wind turbines may work as supplemental power sources . They can lower a home’s dependence on the grid, and therefore reduce energy consumption. Property owners may also be able to use wind-powered devices for other uses. For example, farmers and ranchers can use a turbine to pump water from a well, to charge batteries

9 Facts About Qualifying for PACE Program

October 11th, 2017

Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing helps homeowners afford many home improvements. Administered at a local level, PACE programs cover many renewable energy and water-saving features as well as efficiency upgrades and storm protection improvements in areas where PACE has been approved. Uniform best practice guidelines have been developed for PACE programs, but the details of these programs can vary from state to state. Because they are overseen locally, the financing rules may even be different in two cities within the same state. Still, there are some commonalities among programs. Here are nine standard facts homeowners should know about qualifying for PACE financing. 1. No Upfront Payments Required Upfront costs

business team discusses project with led lighting

High Efficiency LED Lighting for Your Office

January 24th, 2019

When it comes to making the switch to high efficiency LED lighting at the office, advances in technology are creating massive improvements—both in terms of dollars and energy efficiency—for small businesses all the way up to large corporations. For those unfamiliar, high-efficiency lighting systems are those that consume less energy and last longer that traditional lighting systems. And for now, LEDs are the only real choice. In the future, this will include smart lighting, which a lot of businesses are starting to adopt today. Smart lighting systems collect data, set rules, and maybe even be able to warm up your car for you (one day). These intelligent high efficiency lighting

Rainwater Catchment: Is Rainwater Harvesting Worth It?

August 8th, 2017

Rainwater harvesting can be a great way to lower your water bill, as the natural precipitation can be used for different purposes. The upfront costs of a rainwater catchment system vary, depending on the amount of water you want to store and its intended uses. The simplest type of catchment system involves purchasing a rain barrel and connecting it to the existing gutter system with tubing or additional downspouts. The rain is stored in the barrel and used to irrigate gardens, plants, and lawns. More complex systems can store water for household use. This can be a great way to lower the water bill, but the equipment must include filters

6 Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint in 2020

February 8th, 2017

Everyone has a carbon footprint. Activities as simple as commuting to work, heating and cooling a home, running a refrigerator, and even taking a hot shower can contribute to the amount of carbon dioxide in the air. All of these activities, plus many others that people engage in on a daily basis, require energy. And many forms used today – coal, natural gas, oil – release harmful CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. Obviously, these daily tasks are a necessary part of modern life. What can you do, then, if you want to be more environmentally friendly? Perhaps you could take only cold showers and buy non-perishable food that does not

27 Home Energy Efficiency & Conservation Tips

June 26th, 2020

As homeowners know, there are many costs associated with running a household. You need to pay for your groceries, your mortgage, your internet bill, cable, and that pesky electric bill. But it turns out that you can make a serious dent in that last expense by taking advantage of easy-to-implement energy efficiency measures. Ready to start saving money? Want to reduce your carbon footprint? Keep reading for energy savings tips that you can use in your own household regardless of the season. What is Energy Efficiency? Energy efficiency means using less energy to provide the same amount of power. It’s a great way to save money on your electric bill

How to Conduct a Home Energy Audit

April 14th, 2020

If your home is drafty or if you notice your utility bills skyrocketing after normal energy use, a DIY energy audit may be in order. An energy audit is a type of home inspection that determines where energy is being lost in your property and what upgrades can help. Conducting your own energy audit may not yield the same results as a professional energy audit, but it’s still helpful to identify opportunities to save money and frustration. By completing a thorough and comprehensive energy walkthrough, you can get a better sense of your home’s strengths and weaknesses. So, what exactly is a home energy audit and how do you perform

When to Replace Your HVAC System & Costs to Consider

November 25th, 2019

Use these ENERGY STAR questions to determine if your HVAC system is on its last legs.The best heating and cooling (HVAC) system is one you don’t have to think about. In fact, you may not even give your HVAC a second thought until suddenly, your heater isn’t working during the cold winter months or your air conditioning fails during a sweltering summer heatwave. Replacing a broken or old HVAC system is one of the best home renovation ideas for your family’s comfort. But how do you know when it’s time to replace your HVAC system or what kind of costs to anticipate? This helpful guide will educate you on the

Home Solar Battery Guide

August 21th, 2020

Going solar is no longer a luxury for Americans with disposable income. The cost of installing solar panels has dropped roughly 70 percent in the past decade, making these renewable energy systems accessible to the everyday homeowner. A convenient add-on to solar power systems, solar batteries provide a way to back up energy and have also become more cost-effective in recent years. Solar batteries store surplus solar power that homeowners can use later to power their homes. If you already have a home solar power system or you’re thinking of investing in one, it’s wise to consider adding battery backup as well. Solar Batteries for Home Use A residential solar

5 Different Types of Water Heaters

September 27th, 2019

Picture this: it’s the dead of winter and you’ve just finished shoveling your driveway after a full hour of snow-slinging. Nothing sounds better than a warm shower to bring life back into your frozen body, but upon cranking the hot water, only cold water comes out. Your water heater has bit the dust and the timing couldn’t be worse. In a perfect world, water heaters would be invincible—no test of time or durability could phase them—but in reality, the average water heater only lasts 8-12 years. When it’s time to replace your water heater, you may quickly realize that not only are there several types of water heaters out there,

High-Efficiency Furnaces: Are High Efficiency Furnaces Worth It?

January 10th, 2018

On paper, high-efficiency furnaces seem like a good investment both in terms of energy bills and the environment. Still, there are a few things to consider before committing to a furnace upgrade. First of all, high-efficiency furnaces can have a higher price tag than standard models. The higher cost can lead homeowners to either opt for a less efficient (but cheaper) replacement or to stay with their older furnace for a few more years. But homeowners should look at the long-term savings potential of high-efficiency furnaces. The monthly utility bill savings could be well-worth the upfront cost. So if the initial cost is what's stopping you from going with a