What is possible at your house?

Purchasing green power: North Carolina GreenPower is designed to boost the production of green power by creating a market and an incentive for companies to develop and sell. By adding a small monthly premium to your electric bill ($4.00 at this writing) electric customers purchase a 100 kWatt block of electricity. This block of electricity has been generated from biomass (plant and animal waste , and energy crops), landfill gas(methane), and small hydropower facilities. Soon solar and wind energy will be added to this mix. North Carolina Green Power web site: North Carolina Green Power.

Purchasing and installing ENERGY STAR appliances: These are household products that meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy. Energy efficient choices can save families about a third on their energy bill with similar saving of greenhouse gas emissions, without sacrificing features, style, or comfort.

Conserving around the house: Turn off the lights, and all that jazz. We have all heard the message. Get in the habit. And, check the U.S. Department of Energy's web site for more suggestions for minimizing daily energy usage around the house: www.energy.gov

Landscaping for energy efficiency: If you are looking for cost-effective yet eye-pleasing ways to lower your energy bills, planting trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, investment for reducing heating and cooling costs. A well-designed landscape will:

• Cut your summer and winter energy costs dramatically,

 

• Protect your home from winter and summer sun,

 

• Reduce consumption of water, pesticides, and fuel for landscaping and lawn maintenance,

 

• Help control noise and air pollution.

Solar energy: The sun is our and it is free on a day-to-day basis. All you have to do is research and install the system/systems that work for you. Solar energy can:

• Heat a home in the winter using passive design practices,

 

• Heat water year round with a solar hot water heater,

 

• Light a house with properly placed windows.

For more information about solar energy systems and designs, check out the North Carolina Solar Center's web site: North Carolina Solar Center

Wind energy: Wind energy is currently the fastest growing energy source in the world. Like solar, wind energy systems usually have a high up front cost with little or no operating cost for the life of the system. There can be some maintenance cost over the life of a wind turbine, i.e. blade replacement, etc. The viability of a wind system will depend on three issues:

• Available wind at the site to meet your needs,

 

• Regulatory or permitting barriers that may prohibit the installation of a wind system(wind turbine in your neighborhood?),

 

• Whether the initial investment can be recaptured in a reasonable amount of time.

Take advantage of the state tax credit for renewable energy!

North Carolina offers a personal tax credit of 35% of the construction, equipment, and /or installation costs for residential energy systems. The maximum credit per year and per system is $10,500 for residential photovoltaic, micro-hydro, biomass, biogas, and wind system; $3,500 for residential passive and active space heating; and $1400 for solar water heating systems. Check out the web sites:

• North Carolina Solar Center
• State Energy Office, NC Department of Administration

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