Federal & State incentives for installing efficient appliances & systems

The RI Home Show was hosted last week at the RI Convention Center. Meridian Custom Homes hosted their own booth, as they do every year at the show. During my time at the show, I was able to take some time and walk around to visit some of the other booths at the show.

In speaking to heating and air-conditioning professionals I was made aware of a website that outlines all tax incentives for installing efficient appliances, heating systems, air conditioning systems and other "green" technologies.

I found this website very informative and valuable. The site can be found at:
www.dsireusa.org

Many of the tax incentives that were available in the past have been dramatically increased with the new "stimulus" bill that was just pasted in Congress.

The Mello Group awarded Top 25 Team in New England!

The Mello Group in January 2009 was ranked #18 on the list of top 25 teams in all of New England, within the RE/MAX Network. The following is the detailed list:

1 Barbara Todaro, Franklin, MA
2 Stephanie Ellison, Milford, CT
3 Robin Spangenberg, Medfield, MA
4 Eduardo Marines, Providence, RI
5 Gil Campos, Foxboro, MA
6 Thomas Piantadosi, Cumberland, RI
7 Rocco LaCivita, Winchester, MA
8 Michael Hughes, Waltham, MA
9 Katie Friel, Arlington, MA
10 Elizabeth Luis, Methuen, MA
11 Sharyn Kirsner, Foxboro, MA
12 Constance Corbett, Waltham, MA
13 Bill Gassett, Hopkinton, MA
14 Carole Cressy, Marblehead, MA
15 Leo Tatangelo, Coventry , RI
16 Lynn O'Neill, York, ME
17 Vivian Nelson, Foxboro, MA
18 Gary Mello, North Providence, RI
19 Patricia Marcotte, Beverly, MA
20 Thomas Beauchemin, Goffstown, NH
21 Karl Martone, Smithfield, RI
22 Jeanne Smith-Haroian, North Kingstown, RI
23 Dennis Page, Chelmsford, MA
24 Preben Christensen, Northborough, MA
25 Julie Duncan, Lexington, MA

Portsmouth RI Leading the way in Green Innovation

The Town of Portsmouth has funded the deployment of a wind turbine to harvest wind energy, saving tax payers money and setting an example for other communities throughout America.

This turbine generates enough electricity for approximately 460 homes, but will be used to power schools and other municipal buildings instead, and will also generate income for the Town by reselling excess energy back to the power company.

For CNN coverage on this topic click on the following link.
Harnessing the wind

[This story was generated by CNN on 3/19/2009 on their national website]

National Grid offers Free Energy Audits!

This past week I had an energy efficiency audit done by National Grid at our primary residence. This is a free service offered by National Grid for all current residential customers free of charge!

The auditor reviewed the following:

• All exterior walls, attics and spaces that require insulation to ensure the home is properly insulated
• Electricity use, including appliances to identify appliances that use a great deal of electricity
• All lighting in the house:  He proceeded to replace the majority of the lighting with CFL's (Compact fluorescent light bulbs) for FREE.
• Did an efficiency test on our oil-fired heating system and recommended that we replace it as soon as we can afford to (it is only heating at 75% efficiency: They test this by putting a probe in the vent pipe of the heating system. The probe tests combustion, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide levels to determine the efficiency level it is operating at)
• The windows in the house to determine if they are performing adequately
• Among many other features of our home

The gentleman from National Grid provided a report at the end of the appointment summarizing his findings and counting the number of lights we changed to CFL's.  In total we replaced over 30 lights in the house valued over $400 in lights for free.

We also found that we had inadequate insulation in the attic.  He provided a quote over $2,000 for installing new insulation in the attic and proceed to inform us that it is heavily subsidized through an efficiency program and that we would only have to pay $700 of the total cost to have the work performed.

This appointment absolutely exceeded our expectations.  The auditor mentioned that the free lights are sponsored by a program funded by all National Grid customers automatically, through a small fee paid by every customer per month.

I strongly recommend setting up an appointment for this audit to all home-owners.  Although I live in MA, the auditor mentioned that RI has a similar program also.  

Keep in mind, I made my appointment on December 9, 2008 and my appointment was on March 5, 2009, but it was well worth the wait!

To request an appointment click on the following link: (For MA Customers)

https://www.nationalgridus.com/masselectric/business/forms/4_small_form.asp

NECN Interview with MA Association of Realtors President: First time home buyer credit explained

Click on the link below for an overview of the new $8,000 tax credit to first-time home buyers:
http://www.necn.com/Boston/Business/2009/03/03/How-the-firsttime-home-buyers/1236127882.html