As you begin thinking about how best to reduce your environmental impact this Earth Day, consider the following facts:

• Buildings represent approximately 40% of the world’s energy consumption. (IEA)
• Buildings are responsible for 1/3 of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. (United Nations)
• Homes are responsible for 22% of the energy consumed in the U.S. (EIA)
• Space heating and cooling is responsible for more than 50% of a typical home’s energy consumption. (DOE)
• Your home’s energy efficiency can be vastly improved through simple measures like air sealing and improved insulation.
• EnergyFit Nevada is offering generous rebates and incentives that make these energy efficiency improvements very affordable today, but they won’t last forever.

In short, improving your home’s energy efficiency with a home performance upgrade through EnergyFit Nevada is one of the most effective steps you can take to reduce your environmental impact and make the world a greener place.

If that’s not enough, these improvements will also make your home more affordable to cool throughout the summer, and improve comfort throughout the house.

For more information about the EnergyFit Nevada program, or to sign up for a home energy assessment today and get started on the path to improved energy efficiency and comfort, feel free to drop us a line to sign up!

Thank you to our friends at the Nevada Chapter of the United States Green Building Council for their recognition of EnergyFit Nevada and our program. We are very proud of our community partnership with USGBC and look forward to working even more closely together to further our collective goals of a more energy efficient and sustainable Nevada in 2013!

Visit usgbcnv.org for more information about this great organization!

EnergyFit Nevada Makes Difference
December 27, 2012 by Steve Rypka

My last column about the season of giving suggested that Green Living can be a wonderful way to express our appreciation to those we care about. Just after I wrote it, a friend sent a wonderful email providing a real world example of exactly what I had in mind. I’ll refer to this couple as Jenn and Rob.

The excitement in Jenn’s email was obvious. She mentioned “a Merrier Christmas season” for her and Rob, attributing it to the energy efficient, home quality improvements they had implemented earlier this year after moving in to a home built in the early 60s.

Jenn included some images of a recent online utility bill and wrote, “Just look at our latest NV Energy bill. See the graph comparing our energy use to neighboring homes?! Our house is a little larger than average for this neighborhood and we are paying close to 40% less each month in energy bills!”

Not Very Sexy

She told me later that she just got excited while paying the bill and decided to share the news with her friends. Energy efficiency may not be the sexiest thing in the world, but I can almost guarantee that every time Jenn and Rob get their bill, they will both be grateful for what they have given to each other.

How did they do it? Here is what Jenn wrote:

“Following our energy efficiency upgrades we tested out at about a 37% improvement. And our NV Energy bills have been right on track! We started with an $11,000 total package that included a new variable speed pool pump, blown-in attic insulation, replacement of one of two heat pumps, and new programmable thermostats. Still, we were only out of pocket $1,700 after all the great rebates and our green mortgage! We have lots more we want to do (mainly windows and patio doors – there’s tons of them!) and want to see just how low we can go…before Santa finally brings our solar panels (next year, maybe??).

“Oops! …almost forgot to include one of our favorite new features…our Solar Water Heater…love it! At least we have one sexy solar panel on our roof!”

Hmm, perhaps I was wrong about this stuff not being sexy. Jenn’s excitement really comes through in her message, as well as the fact that they are nowhere near done. The couple is looking forward to further changes that will lower their bills even more while improving their home quality, comfort and value.

Unexpected Results

Aside from experiencing a more comfortable summer this year, Jenn said one welcome benefit was immediately obvious. When one of their old heat pumps was replaced with a more efficient unit, the contractors also repaired a previously undetected problem with the air intake system. This led to an unexpected improvement in the indoor air quality of the home that was delightfully noticed within minutes of turning on the new system.

If you are interested in giving your family a similar gift, you are in for a pleasant surprise. EnergyFit Nevada is a non-profit organization that helps homeowners through the entire process, step by step. They provide pre-qualified contractors; they are aware of all available incentives, including NV Energy, Southwest Gas and others; and can even explain the benefits of a green mortgage. Best of all, they offer performance-based rebates that help pay for your improvements.

The Process

The basic process is simple. Initial testing establishes a baseline that, coupled with a detailed inspection, helps determine what improvements are best suited for each particular home. The homeowner selects from the available options and the work is done by contractors who are properly trained for the program. Final testing determines the amount of improvement, and therefore the rebate amount.

EnergyFit Nevada consists of a great group of people who are making a difference. They have helped a lot of folks like Jenn and Rob. If you have an older home and high energy bills, why not give them a call? It just might be the best gift you can buy.

Following the press event at the Hafen home on Monday, the Henderson City Council declared Tuesday, November 20th, 2012 as EnergyFit Nevada Day. Mayor Hafen and City Council members presented HomeFree Nevada with a proclamation aligning the EnergyFit Nevada program (especially the newly announced $3,000 winter rebate special) and The City of Henderson’s goals to promote and support sustainable practices and development as well as to strengthen and diversify the city’s economy.

We applaud the City of Henderson for their leadership of energy efficiency in our community!

This winter, EnergyFit Nevada is bundling up some perks!   

The State of Nevada and City of Sparks, Washoe County and the City of Reno declared October 22nd, 23rd and 24th, respectively, EnergyFit Nevada Days!

With October being National Home Performance with ENERGY STAR month, jurisdictions in Northern Nevada demonstrated their leadership and dedication to residential energy efficiency by proclaiming EnergyFit Nevada days at October City Council and County Commission meetings and encouraging residents to take the first step in improving their home by signing up for home energy assessments through the EnergyFit Nevada program.

• City of Sparks Declares Monday, October 22, 212 as EnergyFit Nevada Day
• Washoe County Declares Tuesday, October 23, 2012 as EnergyFit Nevada Day
• City of Reno Declares Wednesday, October 24, 2012 as EnergyFit Nevada Day

At a press event in Reno, on October 22nd, Stacey Crowley, Director of the State Office of Energy applauded Northern Nevada’s commitment to supporting energy efficiency and presented Denee Evans, EnergyFit Nevada Executive Director, with a proclamation from Governor Sandoval as well. Denee thanked Governor Sandoval and Director Crowley for their recognition of Energy Efficiency as the most cost effective energy source we have in the Silver State.

]]> http://www.energyfitnevada.org/energyfit-nevada-days-in-northern-nevada/feed/ 2 http://www.energyfitnevada.org/lorax/ http://www.energyfitnevada.org/lorax/#comments Sat, 15 Sep 2012 21:09:12 +0000 Lauren http://www.energyfitnevada.org/?p=883 Continued]]> Partner with EnergyFit and the Lorax!

Join the EPA, the Lorax and millions across the country who are taking action to make thier home more energy-efficient and protect the climate.

Get Started!
Join Team ENERGY STAR and take the ENERGY STAR Pledge.

Check out activities for the kids, information on how your family can save energy and money, have fun, and earn exciting rewards too. You can share your story, upload photos and videos and more.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported on the success of the STEM Teachers Academy, hosted by Envirolution, HomeFree Nevada and the US Green Building Council. The five-day Academy provided teachers in the Clark County School District with the hands-on experience, knowledge, and resources to bring building science into the classroom. Click here to read the full article.

HomeFree Nevada is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit state sponsor of Home Performance with ENERGY STAR®. Through the EnergyFit program, we help residents make their homes more comfortable and energy efficient. We are honored to be a finalist for the 2012 Las Vegas Business Press Green Business Awards in the category of Green Nonprofit, alongside the amazing folks at Green Chips and Nevada ENERGY STAR PARTNERS- Green Alliance.

EnergyFit Nevada is proud to be a sponsor of the High Performance Home Summit, August 15-17 in Las Vegas, hosted by Nevada ENERGY STAR Partners- GREEN Alliance. As part of the Summit, EnergyFit will host an Intercaz training session where participants can earn CEU’s and compete for an iPad by playing a video game. Contractors Click here to watch a quick introductory video.Participants will need a computer, so remember to bring your laptops. Be ready to compete. Check out the video in our “Contractors” section to see an introduction of how to use the software so you can be ready to win your iPad on August 17. Sounds simple? That’s because it is. Participants can register as part of the Summit or by contacting EnergyFit directly at info@homefreenv.org.