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Making More Than $ense of your $avings!
Going "GREEN" isn't a term that some consumers understand or even recognize. Referring to someone who was green may have been used to imply inferiority. To say someone looked green could have translated to them looking less than their best, or otherwise, sickly. With all of the media coverage and newly decorated packaging found on every grocer's shelf, the message being clearly stated is that being "GREEN" translates to energy efficiency, sustainable and environmentally friendly.This information is meant to be part of a series of useful tools to help guide my clients and consumers to make smarter choices for themselves and the environment. Ultimately, it could net a higher sales price of their home, depending upon the improvements. As a buyer, one can afford a slightly higher value home since the monthly utility bills would be less. This would leave more money to put toward a mortgage if the home were energy rated. This can also be effectuated through an energy efficient mortgage which would provide for upgrades to systems and thus, allowing a slightly higher debt to income ratio in the process.With the economy being sluggish, unfortunately, our furnaces seem to suffer a shorter than expected life expectancy. Should you be lucky enough to have a plumber at your service, as I do, being my hubby John, he would recommend an Energy Star rated furnace with an AFUE >=95. This, in the infamous words of Senator John McCain, "My Friends”, would qualify for a Federal Tax Credit of $150! However, the furnace must be placed into service between January 1-December 31, 2009. One of the least expensive ways to save money on your monthly utility bills is to insulate. You can earn a Tax Credit of up to $500! Sorry, siding and cost of installation do not qualify. Find out more from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency® U.S. Department of Energy's website on these and other available tax credits for the tax year 2009. http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits#c2.
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