Josephs Appraisal Group Green Consulting

A Josephs Appraisal Group Green Consultant will come to your home and do an inspection to find ways you can make your home more energy effecient!

Here are a few friendly Tips from Josephs Appraisal Group: 

• CFL Light Bulbs – An 18-25 Watt CFL puts out 1,100 Lumens which is equal to the light put out from a 75 Watt Incandescent Light Bulb. If every American home replaced just one light bulb with a Compact Fluorescent Light bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, more than $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars.

• Windows – One of the most effective house-hold retrofits is new windows. Double paned models with a “low-e” coating that blocks heat and UV rays can drop energy use by 20 to 30%. A good weather proof seal around your windows is essential.

• Insulation – Your insulation can probably be improved. Look for high “R=value” options – the higher the R, the better the resistance to heat flow. Evo-friendly options include blown-in cellulose, recycled denim, and foams like Icynene.

• Yard – Well placed plants and trees provide shadow and block windows – cutting A/C and heating bills by 10 to 15%. Plus, each tree will absorb one ton of CO2 over its lifetime!

• Appliances – The EPA and the European Union make this a no-brainer: look for the Energy Star label on electronics, refrigerators, washers, and air-conditioners. Penny-wise, pound-foolish: the money you’d save on cheaper appliances, you’ll eventually spend on energy bills.

• Solar H2O – A solar heating system can provide a very high percentage of domestic hot water energy(50% to 75%). Using a Solar Combisystem (combined hot water and space heating systems) can provide 15% to 25% of home heating energy. The system will save approximately $230 per year.

• Water Heater – Wrapping your old water heater in a cozy blanket can reduce your emissions by 1,000 pounds of CO2 a year. Blanket insulation kits can be had for less than $20.

• Bathroom – If you really want to prove your green cred, be the first on your block to install a composting toilet, such as Sancor’s Envirolet.

• Floors – Consider certified woods, natural linoleum, cork, bamboo, or an earthen floor. Each has environmental benefits – from the all-natural ingredients of linoleum to the materials preserved by opting for a packed-dirt floor.

• Solar Electricity(Photovoltaic systems) – PV systems produce no greenhouse gases. A typical domestic system can save approximately 1.2 tons of carbon dioxide per year, adding up to almost 30 tons over a system's lifetime. A 2.5kWp system could provide enough electricity to meet around half a households electrcity needs each year. This could mean around $460 off your electricity bill annually.

• Save up to 700 pounds of CO2 by air-drying clothes for six months of the year. Double that if you’re in a no-snow zone.

• Hybrid Vehicle  – Hybrids use both a conventional gas-powered engine and an electric motor to power the vehicle, resulting in better gas mileage and lower emissions.  Owners of these eco-friendly cars are eligible for a "clean-fuel" vehicle tax deduction!

• Buy a Camel  – Whether global warming brings famine or drought, your camel's good to go. Camels can survive for weeks without food and water. They can eat almost anything, including twigs and leather. Because they can raise and lower their body temperatures, camels don't sweat much, so they keep most of the water they drink in their bodies. A well-trained camel can travel an average of 25 miles per day and without a trunk, it can still carry a load of about 600 pounds!