ecobeco's November 2009 Newsletter
ecoTips, News, Deals, and More - And it's Free!
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Greetings!
We are excited to announce the introduction of Rebates for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy for residents of the State of Virginia. These rebates are among the most attractive in the nation. If you include these rebates along with Federal tax credits, Virginians can receive FREE or inexpensive Energy Audits, and up to 50% off energy efficiency home improvements. Read more details below. - Virginia Launches Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Rebate Program
- Introducing Express Energy Audits for Virginia Residents - FREE After Rebate
- Events Update - November 14th DC Energy Efficiency Expo
- November's ecoTip - Keeping Cold Air Out of Your Home
- Product Highlights - ecobeco's Fall Clearance Sale
- Refer Your Friends, Get $$$
- Federal Tax Incentives for Energy Efficiency
- Montgomery County Residents get $250 of FREE Energy-Efficiency Products
- Store Hours
Enjoy! |
Virgina Launches Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Rebate Program
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On October 30th, Virginia put its stimulus money to work with the launch of its Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Rebate Program. This program provides $250 off Energy
Audits. The State has $15 Million dedicated to Energy Efficiency for both Residential and Commercial customers, and the funds are distributed on a first-come-first-served basis.
Here's how it works. First you go online to register for the rebate. Then, the State validates funds are available and reserves them for you. At that point they notify you and you have 180 days to submit your paperwork to the State.
1)
Go
to http://www.dmme.virginia.gov/DE/ARRA-Public/SEPRebate.shtml
to get background information on the process.
2)
Go
to https://epm.virginiainteractive.org/eerebate/
and register yourself as a new user.
3)
Apply
for an Energy Audit rebate "reservation" for $250 by going through the
reservation process. This means you create a "Project" that consists of a
Home Energy Audit.
4)
After
you submit your reservation, then Virginia checks that they have funding for
you, and if they do, they approve your reservation. It takes up to 7
business days to get approved.
5)
They
will e-mail you approval with instructions on what to do next. Then you have
180 days to submit your complete information or you forfeit your reservation.
For an Energy
Audit, you will need to send them information such as your receipt, your audit
report (or possibly just the cover sheet), your auditor's BPI Certification number (which
ecobeco will provide to you), and possibly other things. We will work
with you to ensure that you have the right things once your reservation is
accepted so you can get your rebate quickly. We are in contact with Virginia's Department of Energy to get
clarification on these requirements. You can also continue to check the FAQ link on the SEPRebate.shtml page. Please note that this program is retroactive to any audits performed on or after June 26, 2009.
The Virginia
program also includes rebates for 20% of the costs for certain Energy
Efficiency improvements up to $2,000. These include air sealing and
insulation, HVAC replacements, windows, doors, and programmable
thermostat. The process is essentially the same. If you have made
any of these improvements on or after June 26, then go to the website to "reserve"
your funds. As before, the actual information you will need to submit to
the State after your reservation is accepted is not 100% clear at this time,
but you can expect to need a receipt, manufacturer's certification for
efficiency that is usually downloadable from a Dept. of Energy or EPA website,
and other documents.
The Virginia Renewable Energy Program will launch any day, and we expect tremendous demand. If you have recently installed a Solar or Wind (Geothermal systems are in the Energy Efficiency Program) qualifying system, Virginia's rebates will substantially reduce your payback period. We can help you find an installer, and if you are interested in fuguring out if your home will perform well with solar, you can purchase our $50 solar evaluation as a buy-up to any other service.
We are
excited that Virginia has created strong incentives to drive people towards
creating Energy Efficient homes. Don't forget that energy efficient
property may also qualify for a federal tax credit of 30% up to $1,500 (see more information below).
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Introducing Express Energy Audits For Virginia Customers
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| Attention Virginia Customers! ecobeco has launched a new product that has an almost irresistible price - The Express Energy Audit is FREE AFTER REBATE. Let me say it again...
FREE AFTER REBATE!!!
While our Comprehensive Audit is a great value starting at $150 after rebate, we understand that some folks are unsure that they need a Comprehensive Audit, so the Express Audit is a great way to get started! Note: The Virginia Rebate Program only allows one rebate per household.
Let's compare the Express Audit with our flagship Comprehensive Whole Home Energy Audit. Visit www.ecobeco.com/energyaudit for more information.
What is It? The Express Energy Audit
is a low-cost introduction to energy auditing that can provide
important information about your home's condition and whether
additional action is needed. While not nearly as complex as our
Comprehensive Audit, the Express Energy Audit makes it easy to get
started down the path towards true Home Performance - an energy
efficient, comfortable and safe home.
The Comprehensive Home Energy Audit is performed to the specifications of the Home Performance with ENERGY STARŪ program.
Our
certified auditors put state-of-the-art scientific equipment to work on your home
to analyze precise air leakage concerns and safety measures, including advanced
equipment that detects invisible issues behind walls and other surfaces. Also included is a free follow up test to assure
that the work was done right.
With
your list of recommendations in hand, you'll be surprised how
inexpensively you can save up to 40% on your energy bills while making
your home much more comfortable. What Do You Do Inside My Home?
The Express Energy Audit consists of several steps:
1. Air Leakage Test:
Using a Blower Door Pressure device, we test the airflow of your home
to identify air leaks and find ways to keep air conditioned and heated
air inside your home longer.
2. Detailed Visual Inspection of Rooms and Major Appliances. In addition to looking for energy-savings and comfort improvement, we examine your home for signs of health and safety issues. The Comprehensive Energy Audit is a whole home approach that includes several diagnostic tools. We also spend more time on appliance and airflow safety using advanced equipment.
1. Air Leakage Test:
Using a Blower Door Pressure device, we test the airflow of your home
to identify air leaks and find ways to keep air conditioned and heated
air inside your home longer.
2. Detailed Visual Inspection with Infrared Camera Scan: We find hidden air leaks, insulation problems and moisture issues occurring behind walls, and explain how to fix them.
3. Furnace and Water Heater Safety and Efficiency Test: We examine your major gas appliances for efficiency and safety with a
focus on toxic emissions.
What Happens After the Audit?For Express Audit:
1. You receive a Customized Report with Energy Savings Estimates, Photos and a Prioritized List of Recommended Improvements: In this easy-to-understand report, we prioritize your improvement options to meet your goals.
2. You receive a 30 Minute Report Review With Your Auditor
For Comprehensive Audit:
1. You receive a Customized Report with Energy Savings Estimates, Cost Estimates, Photos, Infrared Images and a Prioritized List of Recommended Improvements: In this easy-to-understand report, we prioritize your improvement options to meet your goals.
2. You receive a 30 Minute Report Review With Your Auditor
3. We perform a FREE Follow Up Safety and Performance Test: After you've had the work done, we come back for FREE to re-measure your home's performance.
Click HERE to learn more about our energy audits. We strongly encourage home owners to opt for the Comprehensive Audit. The Express Energy Audit is available only in Virginia.
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ecobeco Events Update
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| Visit www.ecobeco.com/events to get the latest on ecobeco's speaker series and to see where we'll be speaking throughout the community.
14th Annual Energy Efficiency Expo - Washington Convention Center on Saturday November 14th, from 10am to 4pm at the Washington Convention Center - 801 Mount Vernon Place, NW Washington, DC 20001
ecobeco is joining The Office of the People's Counsel, the District of
Columbia' official consumer utility advocate, for its annual "
hands-on" Energy Efficiency Expo. Stop by to see how you can make your
homes more energy efficient and what DC residents can do to save money
on your energy bills.
Click Here to tell your friends about our events!
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November's ecoTip - Keeping Cold Air Out of Your House
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As the beginning of winter is
upon us and those cold winds start to blow, the cracks and crevices in our home
become very apparent.  Even a small crack seems to allow a lot of cold air
to creep into to your home. Sealing these cracks and crevices is a very important measure. However there are even larger holes that you may never
see that need to be sealed. Examples of these holes are penetrations through the
attic floor from wiring, plumbing, flue pipes, tops of walls and duct - the
sorts of holes that allow your warm air to escape in winter. The
image on the right illustrates the top of a wall as seen from the attic where a
leaky wire penetration (left arrow) and a gap between the top of the wall and the drywall ceiling (right arrow) are allowing air to infiltrate into the home. Note
the dark, sooty color on the insulation - this is an indication of air leakage.
Before you seal those holes, it is critical to ensure that you do not
'over-seal' the home since you may inadvertently limit the necessary natural
air exchange in the home, which could cause air quality and health concerns.
The best way to determine what level of air sealing to do is by getting a whole
home energy audit where a professional will measure your home's overall air
leakage and then prescribe a specific level of air sealing to undertake. That
way you can ensure that you won't over seal the home allowing it to have a
sufficient number of natural air exchanges per hour. Both our Express and
Comprehensive audits feature blower door technology that provides this
information. The Comprehensive audit also provides an Infrared Camera scan
that can identify air movement behind walls, enabling us to provide more
specific guidance on making home improvements.
The interesting part about air sealing is the effect it can have in the
home. For example, air sealing your attic to limit escaping warm air coupled
with sealing leakage sources in your basement can dramatically improve comfort
and reduce your energy bills. Furthermore,
air sealing in combination with adding insulation to recommended levels will
have a much greater impact on your home versus replacing your windows in most
homes. So before you go out to replace your windows, get an Energy Audit
to determine if repairing your windows will work just as well.
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Product Highlights -- Fall Clearance Sale
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With the fall weatherization season here, ecobeco is gearing
up to fight the cold with some hot sales on a wide range of our environmentally
friendly products. Be sure to take full advantage of these clearance
prices on some of your favorite eco-friendly and energy saving product lines as
we prepare for the winter season:
Sale applies to current inventory only. No backorders.
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Refer Your Friends, Get $$$
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| We're very excited to introduce our Friends & Family Referral Program. Just go to www.ecobeco.com/friends
and give us the Name, E-mail and Phone Number of your friends who might
want Energy Audits. We'll contact them and if they purchase an Audit
or Combination package, you'll get a $25 electronic gift card for the
ecobeco product of your choice! Now that's green!
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Tax Incentives for Energy Efficiency
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The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act included substantial spending on energy efficiency related items. Part of the legislation includes an increase in the tax deductions for purchases of energy-efficient appliances, insulation and windows.
Please click the links below to access the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE). Then, consult your tax advisor for more information about whether you qualify for these incentives.
Taxpayers can deduct 30% of total materials costs up to $1,500 for s pecific energy-efficient product purchases made in 2009 and 2010.
Residential Energy Efficiency Tax Credit
Taxpayers can deduct 30% of the installed cost of solar PV, solar hot water, wind, fuel cells, and geothermal heat pump with no maximum limit.
Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit
The DSIRE database also includes incentives specific to your state and county, so be sure to check for those programs as well by navigating back to the home page and then clicking on your state.
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MONTGOMERY COUNTY RESIDENTS GET $250 OF FREE ENERGY-EFFICIENCY PRODUCTS
We'll show you how to claim your Property Tax Credit!
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If you are a Montgomery County Home Owner (you pay property taxes), you can take advantage of the Property Tax Credit for Energy Conservation Devices. This credit refunds 100% of your spending up to $250. CFLs, Low-Flow Showerheads, Programmable Thermostats, and Smart Powerstrips are the easiest and most essential items for any energy-efficient home. And there are many more products that qualify as well. Schedule your in-home visit today and we'll help you determine exactly which products you need today.
ecobeco will provide you with the forms you need to fill out and will coach you on how to fill them out to ensure a smooth claim process.
There's no better time than now to schedule your in-home ecoAssessment or Energy Audit. The tax credit is limited to $250,000 of total benefit for the entire county for fiscal year 2010, so make your purchase now and submit your application as soon as possible to ensure your refund. There is no income exclusion or residency requirement for this credit.
Call us at the store (240) 396-2141 x2 to learn more.
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Store Hours
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Our regular hours are:
Monday - Friday: 3pm - 7pm
Saturday: 10am - 2pm
We are also available by appointment, and of course we are open during all of our special events. |
We hope you enjoyed reading our November newsletter. We'd love to hear from you. Please visit us at www.ecobeco.com or come visit us at
5465 Randolph Rd, Unit B, Rockville, MD 20852, which is near White Flint
Mall and the intersection of Montrose Rd and Rockville Pike. Please feel free to forward this
note. 
Thanks,
Brian, Reuven, Curt, Jonathan, Mike, Valerie and Daniela
(240) 396-2141
info@ecobeco.com
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