Nevada Energy Star Partners encourage making homes ‘green’ with rebates, tax credits, benefits

Making your home more energy-efficient is not only good for the environment, it's also good for your wallet, according to Annette Bubak, president of Nevada Energy Star Partners, a coalition of builders, manufacturers, utilities, consultants and other conservation-minded companies. According to Bubak, because energy efficient homes use less energy and fewer natural resources, they are less expensive to heat and cool.

But beyond a reduction in monthly power and utility bills, there are many financial and tax incentives available to make your home more energy-efficient, according to Bubak.

Federal tax credits are offered to homeowners for many energy-efficient products that meet federal guidelines. These products include insulation, exterior windows and skylights, storm windows, exterior doors, storm doors, roofing, air source and geo-thermal heat pumps, central air-conditioning units, a variety of furnaces and water heaters. According to Bubak, a maximum tax credit of $1,500 for all products placed in service in 2009 and 2010 is allowed.

To determine the specific requirements of products that meet federal guidelines, visit energystar.gov/taxcredits.

NV Energy offers a number of incentives including a cash incentive that ranges from $140 to $1,125 for air conditioners with a 14.5 SEER or higher. According to Emily Huffman, NV Energy also picks up old refrigerators for recycling and pays consumers $30 when they purchase a new qualifying energy-efficient refrigerators. Instant rebates are also available to homeowners who upgrade their pool pumps with energy-efficient two-speed or variable-speed pumps.

NV Energy's Renewable Generations program helps customers offset the installation costs of renewable energy systems. This program offers incentives to customers for installing approved photovoltaic and wind-generating systems on their homes, small businesses, public buildings or schools.

Southern Nevada Water Authority offers financial incentives, including a $1.50-per-square-foot lawn replacement rebate. To date, valley residents and businesses have replaced more than 130 million square feet of grass, saving 7.5 billion gallons of water annually, according to the SNWA. It also offers pool cover rebate coupons for up to $200 off or half the cost of a pool cover that will save 10,000-15,000 gallons lost through evaporation per year. Visit snwa.com or call 258-SAVE for details.

An Energy Efficient Mortgage is yet another way to extend your dollar when making your home more energy efficient, according to Bubak. An EEM credits a home's energy efficiency in the mortgage itself. EEMs give borrowers the opportunity to finance cost-effective, energy-saving measures as part of a single mortgage and qualify for a larger loan amount and a better, more energy-efficient home. To get an EEM, a borrower is typically required to secure a home energy audit and rating from a third-party inspector before financing is approved. This rating verifies for the lender that the home is energy-efficient. This rating verifies for the lender that the home is energy-efficient.

EEMs are offered by federally insured mortgage programs (Federal Housing Authority and Veterans Administration) and the conventional secondary mortgage market (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac).

Bubak said start with a home energy audit first to see where your home is losing energy.

For a list of professionals capable of conducting energy audits, visit thinkenergystar.com.

Energy Star, the national U.S. government symbol for energy efficiency, was created by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and is now jointly implemented with the U.S. Department of Energy.

Now in its ninth year, Nevada Energy Star Partners was recognized in April 2009 by the EPA at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., with its most distinguished award, Sustained Excellence, for the seventh consecutive year.