“Cash for Caulkers” is nearly here. Last month the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5019 – also known as the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010 or “Cash for Caulkers” – to kick-start construction, create jobs and cut back carbon emissions. While the bill still needs to clear the Senate, supporters predict it will pass this summer.

This is great news for homeowners and contractors alike. The bill provisions $6 billion for energy-efficient or “green” retrofits. It is expected to fund renovations for 3 million families, create 168,000 new jobs and save consumers $9.2 billion on energy bills over the next 10 years.

But in order to cash in on upcoming rebates, homeowners and contractors will need to do their homework. There are 13 types of retrofits eligible for funding. Each retrofit has unique eligibility requirements and set rebate amounts. You can read the full text here.

We made it really easy to wade through the legalese. Below is a table that breaks down the 13 retrofits of the bill, along with the requirements and rebate amount for each. In addition to the requirements we listed, each retrofit must comply with Building Performance Institute (BPI) standards or other procedures to be approved by the Secretary of Energy.

We also decided to combine these retrofits into three packages that will help homeowners get the best bang for their buck. But first, let’s review the program details.

Who is Eligible and How to Qualify?
The Home Star bill offers two rebate programs, the “Silver Star” program and “Gold Star” program. Here are details for each:

• Silver Star – Unless another amount is specified in the “Rebate Amount” column above, homeowners will receive a $1,000 rebate for each retrofit listed in our table. The maximum amount of rebates paid out will be $3,000 or 50% of the total cost, whichever is lower. For example, if a homeowner spends a total of $4,000 on eligible retrofits, they will get $2,000 or 50% back as a rebate. If they spend $8,000 on eligible retrofits, they would only receive $3,000 in rebates instead of $4,000 (which would be 50% of the cost).
• Gold Star – To qualify for the Gold Star program, homeowners must reduce their total home energy consumption by 20%. A $3,000 rebate will be rewarded for this reduction. Homeowners can receive an additional $1,000 for each additional 5% reduction, up to a total rebate of $8,000 or 50% of the total retrofit cost. Rebates may be provided for any of the retrofits listed under the Silver Star program, or for any other energy-saving measure, including: home energy management systems, high-efficiency appliances, highly reflective roofing, awnings, canopies, and similar external fenestration (window) attachments, automatic boiler water temperature controllers, energy-efficient wood products, insulated vinyl siding, and mechanical air circulation and heat exchangers in a passive-solar home.

The Home Star bill also includes rebates for do-it-yourself (DIY) homeowners that are confident in taking on the renovations themselves. DIY’ers can get up to $250 in rebates for products purchased without installation service. This rebate is limited to attic insulation, crawl space insulation and/or air-sealing retrofits.

Seal Your House Envelope and Improve Insulation
Before carrying out any serious retrofit, homeowners need to weatherize and seal their house “envelope.” The envelope includes outer walls, windows, doors, floors and the ceiling. If the house is not properly sealed and insulated, then subsequent HVAC retrofits won’t be as effective.

Common Air Leaks

In some cases, savvy do-it-yourselfers may be able to handle these projects themselves. There are plenty of books and great online resources (e.g. ACEEE.org) that provide instructions. However, you should seriously consider hiring an auditor beforehand. Special diagnostics equipment will show where air is escaping and to what extent. For example, thermal imaging devices detect areas in walls that are poorly insulated and dispersing heat. This information would be unavailable without such devices.

So how much does it cost to seal all the air leaks in a home? Prices will obviously vary based on where you live, how big your property is and the scope of the retrofit. But it will likely cost a few thousand dollars to hire a contractor for this type of renovation. In this example from the New York Times, the author spent $3,760 for insulating and sealing the envelope of his 1,200 square foot home.

How much can homeowners expect to save? The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that homeowners can save 20% on heating and cooling costs by sealing leaks and adding insulation. In New York – one of the most expensive places to heat a home with an average annual cost of $1,513 – this would be a yearly savings of $300 just for heating.

Continuing with the example from the New York Times, the Silver Star program would provide $1,880 (50%) in rebates for their retrofit. At an annual savings rate of $300, the renovation would pay for itself in six years (or less if you include cost savings from reduced air conditioning bills).

Repair and Replace Leaky Ducts
Ducts are notoriously leaky and inefficient. They are one of the usual suspects in a crime of high utility bills, or when rooms are difficult to heat and cool. The EPA calculates that 20% of air moving through ductwork is lost due to leaks, holes and poor connections. Other sources put estimates closer to 40%. So while suffering from “leaky ducts” may sound innocuous, it can have a big impact on the efficiency and costs of heating and cooling your home.

Fortunately, duct replacement and sealing is eligible for funding under the Home Star bill. Many homeowners will want to outsource this project to a qualified HVAC contractor. Contractors have equipment to detect leaks that otherwise may not be immediately visible. They also have methods to seal ducts that are inaccessible. For example, by spraying an adhesive or sealant through the duct work.

Replacing and sealing ducts can also be a DIY project, especially when ducts can be easily accessed in an attic or basement. Leaks should be sealed with mastic sealant or metal tape (not duct tape), then insulated to reduce heat loss and to further improve efficiency. The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has an excellent guide on how to seal and insulate ducts.

Upgrade Your Furnace and Water Heater
Heating is the largest energy expense in homes, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). In colder parts of the country, it makes up 30 to 50% of annual energy bills. So improving the heating efficiency of your home will have the biggest impact on lowering your energy costs. Sealing air leaks is a good start, but replacing your heating system could provide real leverage towards cost savings.

If your furnace or boiler was purchased before 1990, then it is time to consider an upgrade. Modern furnaces are much more efficient than those that are older than 20 years. You can use rebates from the Home Star bill to replace your furnace, but you will need to meet their guidelines:

Water heaters are typically the second largest energy users after home heating and cooling systems. Replacing convention oil-fired water heaters with high-efficiency gas or electric heaters can save homeowners thousands of dollars over a 10 to 15 year period. The Home Star bill includes a variety of replacement options eligible for rebates.

Ground Source Heat Pump

An alternative to furnaces and boilers are ground source heat pumps (GSHPs). Also known as geothermal heat pumps, GSHPs are one of the most efficient systems for heating and cooling buildings. According to the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association, GSHPs are 50 to 70% more efficient than other heating systems, and 20 to 40% more efficient than traditional air conditioners. They can also be used as an alternative water-heating system and save up to 50% on water-heating bills.

Ground source heat pumps are more economical than using oil or air-source heat pumps, but there is still a lot of debate over GSHPs versus natural gas. Homeowners will need carry out their own due diligence beforehand. For starters, here is an academic report that compares the two options.

Year over year, a ground source heat pump is more cost effective than natural gas. It’s the initial cost that really drives down the return on investment (ROI) and makes natural gas a more attractive option. However, there are several rebates and tax credits available that help subsidize the upfront cost.

Additional Financing Resources
With other legislation in the queue, it might take weeks or months to hear the Senate’s final decision on the Home Star bill. In the meantime, homeowners can receive funding from other sources to pay for green renovations. The federal government, state governments, local municipalities and even utility companies offer several options.

For example, homeowners can still receive a federal tax credit for 30% of the cost of energy-efficient products (up to a total credit of $1,500). This includes the purchase of central air conditioning systems (both the product and installation), electric heat pumps, furnaces and boilers, and whole-house ventilation fans. Visit the US Department of Energy Energy Savers website for more information.

Another great resource is the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency or “DSIRE” website. This allows you to view rebates, loan and grant programs, financing options and tax credits offered in your region.

Finally, new home buyers should consider an energy-efficient mortgage or energy improvement mortgage. These mortgages allow consumers to count savings from energy bills as additional income, ultimately giving them more buying power. Home Energy Magazine has a helpful article here.

This article was originally published by Software Advice at: Cash for Caulkers – The Definitive Guide To The Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010

Nowadays, a lot of home buyers are asking the tough, green questions to their real estate agents – are you one that can answer the questions or are you one that “can take a look into it later”?

A lot of the new shoppers are very savvy when it comes to energy efficiency and as a real estate agent, one who wants to satisfy the customer, should always be one step ahead. There are the aesthetic selling points to a home such as the outer appearance, fresh paint, shiny hardwood floors and stainless steel appliances. But energy efficiency is also a key point that more and more people are inquiring about.

Older houses are lower-priced because of it and newer homes offer it as selling feature since the future owner won’t have to pay as much on the energy bill.

As a real estate agent who has completed the Home Energy Auditor Training, you’ll have a significantly improved knowledge about home energy and can pass that down to the clients. An experienced real estate agent can communicate to their customers where they can save on the energy bill in their new home and how to reduce the costs on a day-to-day basis. For sellers, a shrewd real estate agent can help highlight the energy efficient features of the home to help market it better.

The more you know, the more you’ll be prepared for any type of home energy questions a buyer might have. And when you’re considered the expert, you’re one step closer to building the trusting relationship that gets you a sale.

Other benefits include a standing 15% off discount for any of your clients that you refer for a home energy audit and they will also receive the benefit of priority scheduling, which means they will get serviced sooner.

Overall, the benefits are plenty for real estate agents so take the time to invest in yourself and invest in your career with some higher learning.

Need more evidence that a home energy audit and other energy conserving plans are rapidly gaining popularity around the world? One of the most famous styles of homes from one of the most popular television shows in the United Kingdom is going to get a home energy audit as well, according to The Guardian.

Some energy-efficiency scientists are set to play with homes exactly the same type as the ones showed on the set of Coronation Street, which is the longest running soap opera around. As a matter of fact, these specific ones are in the opening credits of the show.

The good news is that this set of homes, built prior to World War I, was actually set to be demolished before the scientists stepped in. Instead, it will be transplanted to a lab, disassembled and then will be rebuilt under specific conditions in the lab.

All sorts of tests will be run on the house as the scientists make changes to the gas, water and electricity piping. Even some psychologists will be present to test whether certain designs, carpets or furniture make people feel warm – or perceive to be warmer – in comparison to styles.

The modern-day fad is energy-efficient homes but this project is taking an old home and gauging where it can be improved to conserve on energy. While some buyers do prefer building their own new homes, a lot of people simply can’t afford it and others prefer the quaint architecture and style of the past, which simply can’t be duplicated.

Either way, it gives a good idea of just how valuable a home energy audit can be. There are many benefits and it really shows that you don’t need to build a brand new home from scratch to start saving money on energy consumption.

If you were to poll most third-graders and ask them what their dream job is, not many would say “Home Energy Auditor”. But as we grow up and realize that the conserving energy is an integral part of building the future, we quickly realize that a career in home energy auditing should be part of the dream. It’s not just any career; it is an intelligent career choice and a green choice as well.

One of the first steps in becoming a home energy auditor is learning about energy efficiency through the Home Energy Team Institute. Part of the important process is receiving your RESNET certification, which is how you become a certified as a RESNET Home Energy Survey Professional.

RESNET stands for Residential Energy Services Network and they give certain institutions the opportunity to teach about home energy and to certify the practitioners who qualify. In this case, HETI is one of those institutes. Furthermore, RESNET is the premier organization that sets the bar for national standards that energy efficiency and building efficiency is measured. These standards are known by organizations nation-wide from the government to banks and the mortgage industry as the best-practice standards.

By getting your RESNET certification, you can move from the crowd of people who just read about this and claim to know about energy efficiency, to being a certified, authorized professional. There’s a big difference. A lot of people can tell you about stock trading but few of them are actually financial advisers.

No matter what your knowledge level is at this point, – whether it is a general interest or whether you’re an avid energy saver already – the Home Energy Team Institute has courses and certifications for all levels.  Invest in yourself and invest in our energy consumption by getting your certification today.

The Home Energy Team Institute keeps you abreast on all energy-efficiency and home energy auditing learning topics but one thing that home energy gurus need to be conscious of are the government tax credits and rebates.

While the idea of energy saving means cost savings, sometimes the cost of the home upgrades can deter homeowners from making the changes. Is it worth it to spend the money now in order to money save in the long run? What is the break even point?

Government tax credits can help meet that break even point sooner and encourage the changes sooner rather than later. But there aren’t just one or two credits or rebates; there’s nearly thousands from the federal level to the state-by-state level.

Keeping that in mind, though, when homeowners are looking at what potential tax credits they are eligible for, they should examine the state-by-state differences to determine what is available. We’re well aware that there are many federal tax credits that are sweeping across the board,  but there are even more that are determined state-by-state, which means you have to take a look at your state’s details to see whether or not the changes qualify.

For example: Colorado has 40 different utility rebate programs whereas California has 98.

The good news for you is that there is one clean, simple site that organizes all of these energy rebates for you and allows you to just search and find exactly what you’re looking for.

Check out DSIREUSA.org, which is the Database of State Incentives for Renewable & Efficiency. There you will find all the answers to the state-by-state tax credit differences.

Nowadays, energy efficiency is part of the green movement and becoming a part of the team – the part of the energy auditing team, that is – has multiple benefits. On one hand, it can serve as a good job and on the other hand, you can use the tricks of your trade in your own household to save energy and therefore money. You can also join the other team; the one that cares a whole lot more about the environment.

So how do you go from being a casual Joe to being an inspector in the know?

The Home Energy Team Institute has a way to get you onto the team. It’s simple: they educate and they get you prepared.

It may seem like there is too much to learn in such a small period of time, but start off with the RESNET Level-1 Online Course.

Overall, the online course is a whiz is 16 hours and at the end of it, you’ll be ready for the RESNET Home Energy Survey Professional (HESP) Certification Exam.

Among the things you’ll learn is , Minimum Home Energy Survey inspected features and report requirements, basics of heat transfer concepts, building performance testing and air distribution leakage, gross calculation of net areas, key definitions, terminology and energy units and a whole lot more.

If you’re already in the home business – either home contracting or home inspection – or you’re simply looking for a new, energy-efficient career, step up to the Home Energy Team Institute and earn your certification in a matter of days.

As the motto of TED goes, they have some ideas worth spreading.

For those of you wanting to learn a little bit about where to conserve energy at home or why becoming a home energy auditor is an environmentally friendly career choice, you might find it of interest what TED – or more accurately, Catherine Mohr – had to say about it her greenly built house.

She made some very interesting choices along the way of the construction, obviously making all the green ones. Her end goal was to make a number of improvements during the construction of the home to save on energy and to see first hand which changes actually do that.

Take a look here:

http://www.ted.com/talks/catherine_mohr_builds_green.html

The self-proclaimed “organic-eating, carbon foot print minimizing, robotic surgery geek” built the house from scratch trying to minimize the amount of energy she used (along with her husband) and minimize the amount of energy that the house consumes.

Needless to say, if you’re becoming a home energy auditor, doing her house might be one of the easiest jobs to start with.

But the real takeaway point from this data-filled and witty presentation is the break-even point as to when her new energy-efficient house starts paying her back for the smart changes opposed to sticking with the old one. Don’t be surprised if more and more people start going down her road.

HETI offers home energy audit training

There are a lot of sites just like the Home Energy Team Institute’s (HETI), that are trumpeting their home energy audit training and energy auditor courses. With the Cash for Caulkers or Home Star program around the corner from being implemented, aspiring energy auditors are scrambling to get energy auditor RESNET certification. But, who to trust to get this much-needed energy audit training? Fortunately,  HETI is well-positioned to educate and offer home energy audit courses and training the right way.

If you’re really serious about going down this career path and making a living as a home energy auditor, or even taking on this new profession on a part-time basis, you’re going to need impeccable credentials. That’s why HETI offers RESNET certification and BPI affiliate status. Both are considered the gold standards in the undustry and will allow you to effectively counsel your homeowner clients on energy-efficient mesaures. We offer straightforward online courses and field guides, designed to properly equip you with the knowledge to answer any and all energy efficiency questions from homeowners.

It isn’t just about finding ways for homeowners to reap energy savings, it’s also about offering them the right solutions. That’s why our energy auditor courses cover every scenario and possible question that homeowners may throw your way. We educate our students on products, protocol and everything energy audit pertinent.

Our online energy audit training will ideally prepare you to take your exams, regardless of the certification and level you choose. We’re ready to train a whole country full of energy auditor professionals, are you ready?

Home Energy Audit Training available

By now, you understand that home energy audits are so crucial to this country energy-saving and becoming more energy-efficient. You get that every home must get on board and move ahead. But for professionals looking to take on a new challenge, home energy audit training and energy courses are also something to get on board with.

The Home Energy Team Institute offers contractors, home professionals and anyone else looking to get certified, the opportunity to become a home energy auditor. With our simple energy auditor courses and RESNET certification, you can help take this country’s homes well into the next decade. It may sound cheesy or an overshoot, but it’s really not.

It’s an amazing thing to be able to enter someone’s home and be able to offer them an assessment and credible recommendations in order for them to save on energy costs and use less energy. When you think about all of the positive events that come from merely conducting one energy audit, you can’t help but smile.

But make no mistake, undergoing home energy audit training is a serious business. We know you don’t have time or money to waste. That’s why we’ve put together concise and straightforward energy courses to help you start a new career path. By having credentials such as RESNET, BPI and HESP behind you, not to mention the Home Energy Team Institute, your clients will feel like they’re in good hands – and rightfully so.

So check out all that we have to offer and get ready to do homeowners, this country, the planet and yourself  – a world of good!

Real Estate Agents can be energy trained

With a full 65% of all homebuyers considering energy efficiency to be key when purchasing a home, home energy auditors and learning about home energy audits and home energy efficiency is vital for real estate agents.

The Home Energy Team Institute (HETI) can provide home energy audit training to aspiring energy auditors. But, we can also help real estate agents learn about energy efficiency. The energy training is done all online, with a 90-minute webinar. It’s comprehesive energy webinar, designed to give you the background and insight to educate your clients during the house-purchasing process.

The webinar covers:

-Ways to help homeowners lower their operating costs

-Making smart energy decisions when it comes to a new home

-Having a solid foundation to answer all energy-related questions from home buyers

In addition, if you really want to get detailed when it comes to enery efficiency, you can take HETI’s RESNET certification course. Getting home energy audit training and taking energy courses will definitely give you a leg up on all real estates. Home buyers want to save money where they can and HETI is well positioned to help you help them save on energy costs.