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| Follow the Steps to HBR Success! |
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Going Green With HBR
What a better opportunity for you to Go Green than when you are doing your
improvements to your property. FHA203K Eligible Improvements support all the below
enhancements and in some case allow you go over your maximum loan amount.
Save Energy - Use CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs)
Replace all incandescent light bulbs (the regular light bulbs that you usually buy at the
grocery store) with ENERGY STAR® qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs)
which use 66% less energy than a standard incandescent bulb and last up to 10 times
longer. Replacing a 100-watt incandescent bulb with a 32-watt CFL can save Rs.1200
($30 approx) in energy costs over the life of the bulb. You can save $100 per year just
by replacing just five the most frequently used light bulbs in your home. The
greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced by one trillion pounds if every family did
this just in the United States.
Save Energy - Appliances
FHA 203K will finance new free standing appliances for your home.
Appliances use about 18% of a typical home’s total energy bill; with the refrigerator
being one of the biggest energy hogs. The EPA suggests using energy-efficient models
that bear their ENERGY STAR® logo. Energy Star-qualified appliances use 10%-50%
less energy and water than standard models. According to the Energy Star site, if just
one in 10 homes used energy-efficient appliances, it would be equivalent to planting 1.7
million new acres of trees.
Save Energy - Solar Panels
Solar electricity is quickly becoming the energy option of choice for many Americans and
a great way to significantly reduce energy bills. HUD strongly encourages the use of
solar power and will allow a borrower to exceed statutory loan limits. In many cases the
Federal, State and local Utility company offer tax credits that will pay for a good portion
of the purchase and installment of solar panels.
Save Energy - Request a Blower Door Test
A blower door test will uncover the hidden holes and cracks that are the main source of
energy loss in your home. For example an open fireplace damper can let 8% of your
heating costs slip out the chimney. Hiring a certified Home Energy Rater (HERS) costs
$200 to $400 and is worth every penny.
Save Energy - Hot Water Heaters
If you don't have one installed already, put an insulated jacket around your hot water
heater, and insulate the pipes around the water heater. Insulated jackets cost between
$10 and $20, and you can get pipe insulation for less than $1 for six feet. Also consider
turning the temperature on the water heater down to 120 degrees. It will save you
money and prevent scalding.
Save Water - Tankless Water Heaters
These are becoming a hot item, but there are pros and cons. Watch this Consumer
Reports Video and decide for yourself. Click Here for a consumer reports opinion.
Save Water - Shower Heads and Faucets
Install low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators to save resources without sacrificing
water pressure. An efficient shower head will save a family of four up to $285 per year.
They can cost less than $15, and installing them couldn't be easier: they just screw on.
Put an aerator on all household faucets and cut your annual water consumption by 50%.
Low-flow faucet aerators usually cost $5 -$10. Low-flow shower heads range from $8 -
$50 depending on features such as flow adjusting dials and designer styling. Hand-held
models are more expensive than fixed models.
Save Water - Toilets
Toilets are by far the main source of water use in the home, accounting for nearly 30
percent of residential indoor water consumption. Recent advancements have allowed
toilets to use 20 percent less water than the current federal standard, while still
providing equal or superior performance. The WaterSense label is used on toilets that
are certified by independent laboratory testing to meet rigorous criteria for both
performance and efficiency. Only high-efficiency toilets that complete the third-party
certification process can earn the WaterSense label. EPA estimates that a family of four
that replaces its home's older toilets with WaterSense labeled models will, on average,
save more than $90 per year in reduced water utility bills, and $2,000 over the lifetime
of the toilets.
Save Wood - Wooden Floors
Choose bamboo. Bamboo is considered an environmentally friendly flooring material due
to its high yield and the relatively fast rate at which it replenishes itself. It takes just
four to six years for bamboo to mature, compared to 50-100 years for typical
hardwoods. Just be sure to look for sources that use formaldehyde-free glues.
Use Low-VOC products
After painting, the volatile organic compound level can be 1,000 times the healthy
normal level. Select Low or No-VOC paints and finishes to combat this health hazard.
When selecting paints, look for the Green Seal. When cleaning around the house, use
non-toxic natural products or make your own green cleaning products.
Check out the Energy Star Tax Credit!
What a better opportunity for you to Go Green than when you are doing your
improvements to your property. FHA203K Eligible Improvements support all the below
enhancements and in some case allow you go over your maximum loan amount.
Save Energy - Use CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs)
Replace all incandescent light bulbs (the regular light bulbs that you usually buy at the
grocery store) with ENERGY STAR® qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs)
which use 66% less energy than a standard incandescent bulb and last up to 10 times
longer. Replacing a 100-watt incandescent bulb with a 32-watt CFL can save Rs.1200
($30 approx) in energy costs over the life of the bulb. You can save $100 per year just
by replacing just five the most frequently used light bulbs in your home. The
greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced by one trillion pounds if every family did
this just in the United States.
Save Energy - Appliances
FHA 203K will finance new free standing appliances for your home.
Appliances use about 18% of a typical home’s total energy bill; with the refrigerator
being one of the biggest energy hogs. The EPA suggests using energy-efficient models
that bear their ENERGY STAR® logo. Energy Star-qualified appliances use 10%-50%
less energy and water than standard models. According to the Energy Star site, if just
one in 10 homes used energy-efficient appliances, it would be equivalent to planting 1.7
million new acres of trees.
Save Energy - Solar Panels
Solar electricity is quickly becoming the energy option of choice for many Americans and
a great way to significantly reduce energy bills. HUD strongly encourages the use of
solar power and will allow a borrower to exceed statutory loan limits. In many cases the
Federal, State and local Utility company offer tax credits that will pay for a good portion
of the purchase and installment of solar panels.
Save Energy - Request a Blower Door Test
A blower door test will uncover the hidden holes and cracks that are the main source of
energy loss in your home. For example an open fireplace damper can let 8% of your
heating costs slip out the chimney. Hiring a certified Home Energy Rater (HERS) costs
$200 to $400 and is worth every penny.
Save Energy - Hot Water Heaters
If you don't have one installed already, put an insulated jacket around your hot water
heater, and insulate the pipes around the water heater. Insulated jackets cost between
$10 and $20, and you can get pipe insulation for less than $1 for six feet. Also consider
turning the temperature on the water heater down to 120 degrees. It will save you
money and prevent scalding.
Save Water - Tankless Water Heaters
These are becoming a hot item, but there are pros and cons. Watch this Consumer
Reports Video and decide for yourself. Click Here for a consumer reports opinion.
Save Water - Shower Heads and Faucets
Install low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators to save resources without sacrificing
water pressure. An efficient shower head will save a family of four up to $285 per year.
They can cost less than $15, and installing them couldn't be easier: they just screw on.
Put an aerator on all household faucets and cut your annual water consumption by 50%.
Low-flow faucet aerators usually cost $5 -$10. Low-flow shower heads range from $8 -
$50 depending on features such as flow adjusting dials and designer styling. Hand-held
models are more expensive than fixed models.
Save Water - Toilets
Toilets are by far the main source of water use in the home, accounting for nearly 30
percent of residential indoor water consumption. Recent advancements have allowed
toilets to use 20 percent less water than the current federal standard, while still
providing equal or superior performance. The WaterSense label is used on toilets that
are certified by independent laboratory testing to meet rigorous criteria for both
performance and efficiency. Only high-efficiency toilets that complete the third-party
certification process can earn the WaterSense label. EPA estimates that a family of four
that replaces its home's older toilets with WaterSense labeled models will, on average,
save more than $90 per year in reduced water utility bills, and $2,000 over the lifetime
of the toilets.
Save Wood - Wooden Floors
Choose bamboo. Bamboo is considered an environmentally friendly flooring material due
to its high yield and the relatively fast rate at which it replenishes itself. It takes just
four to six years for bamboo to mature, compared to 50-100 years for typical
hardwoods. Just be sure to look for sources that use formaldehyde-free glues.
Use Low-VOC products
After painting, the volatile organic compound level can be 1,000 times the healthy
normal level. Select Low or No-VOC paints and finishes to combat this health hazard.
When selecting paints, look for the Green Seal. When cleaning around the house, use
non-toxic natural products or make your own green cleaning products.
Check out the Energy Star Tax Credit!
Copyright © 2009 Home Buyers Rehab Ltd. All rights reserved.
