Get In On The Clean Energy Works Pilot Program To Help Green Your Home

Portland’s Clean Energy Works recently received federal funding for it’s Pilot program that helps homeowners make energy efficient upgrades with low cost, long term financing through utility bills.  While the primary focus is to help homeowners weatherize their homes through insulation, air/duct sealing, and heating options, you may also be eligible for window upgrades, solar panels and more.

Eligible participants will meet with a Building Contractor and Energy Advocate from the Energy Trust of Oregon to determine what upgrades are available and best suited for the home.  Based on their assessment, the homeowner determines which upgrades they’d like to make.  There are no upfront costs, and rates are minimal, at 5.99% or 3.99% for income-qualified participants, over a 20 year term.  It really doesn’t get much cheaper than that!  Payments are made directly through your utility bill via NW Natural, General Electric, or Pacific Power.

It can be a daunting task to find a qualified, trustworthy contractor to perform any type of work to your home, let alone for work that requires a specific money-saving, environmental impact reducing outcome. This program really walks you through the process with true experts and at a minimal cost.  Get in on it!

Find out more or apply online at:  Clean Energy Works of Portland

A Safe and Healthy Lawn!

Tips for a greener oven

Clean your oven. Not only does this prevent unwanted household smells, it also saves the energy needed to keep your oven hot. Your oven does not have to heat up anything extra and it keeps the air circulating.

Saturday Market at Portland State University

Dates: March 21 through December 19
Times: 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – April through October

9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – November & December

Location: The Saturday Market is located at Portland State University in the South Park Blocks between SW Harrison & SW Montgomery.

Stimulus Plan to Give $15,000 to Home Buyers

If record-low interest rates and an abundant supply of houses on the Portland market weren’t enough to make you eager to start looking for a new home, the Senate yesterday passed a proposed economic stimulus package that includes $15,000 for home buyers purchasing within the year.

The plan would give a tax credit of $15,000 (or 10% of the home’s purchase price, whichever is lower) and applies to all buyers – not just those purchasing their first homes. The Senate plan has no income limits and, unlike the tax credit passed last summer as part of the Housing Recovery Act, does not have to be repaid.

At the same time, mortgage interest rates are expected by many to fall to 4.5% in the coming months.

Is a sizable tax credit combined with a rock-bottom interest rates and unprecedented selection enough spark stagnant sales? Or are potential buyers going to continue to wait, believing that our market has not yet hit bottom?

Current home prices in Portland metro area are down 17% from their peak. Houses in the local market usually sell quickly when priced at 80% of their peak price.

Home buyers waiting for the real estate market to hit bottom will inevitably be caught making their purchase as house prices are on the rise. There may never be a better time to find the home of your dreams….

Top 10 Ways to Make Home Buyers Hate Your House

Even though home buyers are all looking for something different, the majority will turn around and walk back out your door if they notice one or more of these problems:

1. Odors
If you smoke indoors or have pets your house might smell bad, even if you don’t notice it. Ask a friend or neighbor who doesn’t live there to take a whiff… and don’t get angry when they tell you the truth.

2. Dirty Bathrooms
Scrub them, paint them, buy a new shower curtain, rugs and towels–do what it takes to make them shine!

3. Dimly Lit Rooms
Replace dim light fixtures, remove heavy drapes, repaint some rooms with light colors and clean your windows inside and out to bring in more light.

4. A House Full of Busy Wallpaper
Don’t paint over it, because it will be obvious that you did… and ultimately make removal even more difficult.

5. Damp Basements
Most are not due to faulty foundations but occur when rainwater is not diverted away from the house. Prevention can be surprisingly inexpensive.

6. Dogs that Meet You at the Door
Dogs frighten some people and irritate others. Remove pets during showings if possible.

7. Bugs
There are many natural products that can help safely and effectively get rid of insects.

8. Gutters with Plants Growing in Them
Make buyers wonder what else hasn’t been maintained and can contribute to a leaky basement.

9. Sellers Who Hang Around for Showings
Home buyers feel awkward about opening closet doors and lingering for a really good look at the house if the seller is home. Give them their space!

10. Poor Curb Appeal
See above…

Solar Panels

Believe it or not… Portland is a great city for solar panels!

Solar Oregon is a non-profit organization promoting and supporting solar energy.  Solar Oregon offers free workshops to provide basic solar power knowledge and educate the public on the current financial incentives that are available.  These workshops are a great starting point for anyone interested in learning more about this progressive energy option.

Landscaping and Curb Appeal

Going Green – Imagine…

If everyone in the U.S. said “no thanks” to ATM receipts, it would save a roll of paper so long it could circle the equator fifteen times.

Change light bulbs from traditional incandescent to compact fluorescent. If every American did, it would reduce greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of nearly 800,000 cars.

Turn off the car instead of idling when waiting to pick up the kids at school. When a car idles for more than 30 seconds it actually uses more gas and releases more greenhouse pollution into the air then if it were turned off.

If every household in the U.S. replaced just one roll of virgin fiber paper towels (70 sheets) with 100% recycled ones we would save 544,000 trees.

Trade Up – The Opportunity of a Down Market

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