Maine residents pay attention!

Finally someone has figured out how to provide meaningful financial help to those families who are in a tight spot this winter due to the high costs of heating fuel. The folks up in Maine are leading the US in providing an innovative loan program for qualified homeowners.

MaineHousing’s Home Energy Loan Program offers loans at a low fixed rate of only 3.95% (4.194% APR) for home improvements that increase home energy efficiency.

This program is more than a band-aid. For those that participate, it will provide long-term relief from energy costs. Our hats are off to Maine State Housing Authority.

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I came across this Boston Globe article over the weekend that talks about the amount of energy an average NorthEast home uses (READ: wastes) due to common everyday appliances drawing power when they are ‘off’ or in ‘standby’ mode. The number they uncovered? 6% … doesn’t sound like much, but when you add that up, it amounts to $450 million annually across New England. According to a Department of Energy (DOE) study that number grows to over $3 billion dollars annually. Ouch. 

This made me wonder what the culprits were, so  I did a little more research and found this great energy consumption chart from Good Magazine. (Warning: If you have a plasma TV, I warn you, you will not want to look at this chart.) As you might imagine, computers, laptops and printers are high on the list. The list is pretty short and more than half of the appliances in my house are not listed, so here are some other widgets for the gear-heads from Blueline Innovations and P3 International. A real time power monitor that allows you to figure where your electricity is going — although it will require some playing around to isolate the exact source of the drain.

For the rest of us, perhaps buying some power strips and upgrading to the more energy efficient appliances that meet the requirements stated by the DOE here are an easy first step.

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According to the New England Fuel Institute, an emergency home heating loan bill (H.R. 6920) has been introduced to the US Congress that would guarantee loans for up to $5,000 for consumers who did not exceed 150% of median household income for 2008 or 2009.

I recognize that these programs have their place and there are a number of families who truly benefit from them, but can’t we do more than a band-aid? Adding insulation, replacing old appliances, adding a renewable energy system are other ideas certainly worthy of consideration. Aren’t they!?!

That said, if you are one could benefit from this legislation, stay tuned. For the rest of you keep your eyes on DSIRE for other federal/state/local/utility incentives that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.

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The outdoor wood boiler (outdoor wood-fired furnace) good versus bad conversation continues to heat up. Just to make sure everyone sees Greenwood in the right light, we have the good products. Greenwood only makes clean burning wood boilers. In fact, as of the date of this post, we have the cleanest indoor and outdoor wood boilers as determined by the EPA. Sorry, no dirty-burning devices for us.

Greenwood Technologies outdoor wood boilers are designated by the EPA with an Orange Tag because of their low emission status. The Greenwood Aspen 175 and Greenwood Furnace Model 100 are certified for outdoor installation in the State of Vermont.  This is good news for clean burning wood boilers and wood-fired furnaces.  Read more about the debate in a NY Times article that posted on 9/19.

http://www.amny.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny–outdoorfurnaces0919sep19,0,7542616.story

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If you have been doing some research on how to make your home more energy efficient, you have undoubtedly come across articles that recommend you perform an home energy audit. If your like me, you read these and ask myself — so what?

Well, I finally came across an article that provides some true insight into the options and what to expect. Take a look at the Wall Street Journal article, A Quest for an Energy-Efficient House, it is a review of home energy audit options from free DIY sources to the more costly high-tech professional service.

Recently there has been increased press coverage regarding the steps some state and provincial governments are taking to ensure that people can afford to stay warm this winter. Take a look at what is happening in Canada in this article from The Canadian Press. If you want a dose of reality — take a look at this article from the The Associated Press. Talk about depressing.

I am not against short-term subsidies, but the money being discussed begs the question — “Isn’t there a better way?” The same families that require the help this winter will most likely require the same help next year when fuel oil prices are even higher. Have we really made in any progress? We may have bought ourselves a little time, but that is all.

Of course the time we buy this winter will not save us for next winter — all of the wonderful energy projects being discussed on the national scene — wind farms, new oil production, solar power are years from widespread realization. So what is the answer?

Basically, there are two things that can be done aside from turning down your thermostat:

Improve home energy efficiency — sixty percent of the nergy used in the home is in the heating system. Insulation, weather stripping, and programable thermostats are just a few of the ways to reduce the fuel requirement in the home. In those regions of the country that are facing a crisis, why not make these improvements a requirement of, or even better yet, part of any fuel subsidy.

Move to a cheaper fuel source — In hard hit rural and small towns, wood or pellet fired systems are a viable option. Now, take that $750 subsidy and apply that to buy-down the interest rate on a loan or even better yet, provide a government guaranteed low interest loan. Imagine what that would do for to make a new wood/pellet heating system affordable AND provide a long-term solution to the heating dilemma. This type of program has been available in Europe for quite some time, so why are we so slow in exploring them?