Energy
Efficiency
Most new homes
these days are much more efficient in their use of energy and other
resources. Leading builders often invest in products, systems, and
building practices that result in homes that exceed minimum codes
and standards for energy efficiency and water conservation, among
other resource-efficient benefits.
In
addition to lowering utility bills, these superior building
practices also result in a variety of attractive by-products for
homeowners, such as improved indoor air quality and overall comfort,
lower maintenance and replacement costs, and long-term, reliable
performance of various energy-using systems and products.
Energy-efficient
homes also afford other financial benefits beyond lower monthly
utility bills. For instance, homes built to measurable energy
standards can be tested and rated by certified professionals, which
is then used to define anticipated energy cost savings based on
local utility rates. Those savings, in turn, can be leveraged to
secure an Energy-Efficient Mortgage, or EEM.
Such mortgage
loans, offered by an increasing number of lenders and brokers,
subtract the anticipated energy costs savings from a borrower's
calculated or average expenses, thereby allowing them to increase
the amount of money they can borrow for a new home and/or negotiate
a better mortgage interest rate to help reduce their monthly house
payment.
For
example, a calculated and certified energy cost savings of $100 per
month essentially "frees up" that money toward a higher mortgage
loan or monthly payment, enabling you to buy more house. Or, that
savings lowers the lender's risk of loaning you money, an effective
argument for a lower interest rate.
In addition to
better mortgage loan terms, a new house built to a superior level of
energy and resource efficiency can earn a homeowner rebates or
credits from the local utilities, usually for electricity and
sometimes water and natural gas. Utility companies appreciate homes
and homeowners that invest in ways to lower their burden, and reward
them with financial incentives to make those investments. As demand
for energy increases, a greater number and range of local utility
companies will develop rebates, credits, and other incentives to
promote energy efficient housing.
Recently, the
federal government got in on the act by enabling homeowners to earn
a tax credit for purchasing or upgrading their homes with specific
energy-efficient products and features, such as insulating windows
and high-performance heating and cooling systems that exceed code
minimums. The new policy financially rewards builders for developing
better, more energy-efficient homes, as well. For more information,
click here to go online or consult a tax
advisor.
The benefits of
buying and owning an energy-efficient home extend far beyond your
monthly electric or water bill. Ask your builder, real estate agent,
mortgage lender, local utilities, and tax advisor about other
financial rewards you can reap from investing in a better-built home
that conserves resources and results in more comfortable (and
affordable) living environment.
Warmest Regards,
 
Michael Baldwin
Baldwin Homes, Inc.
277 K
Peninsula Farm Rd.
Arnold, MD 21012
Office:
410-544-2200
Fax: 410-544-0980
Email: info@baldwinhomes.net
Website:
www.baldwinhomes.net
c. 2007 all
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