ecobeco's February 2012 Newsletter
ecoTips, News, Deals, and More - And it's Free!
|
|
|
|
|
Greetings!
It's a leap year! This month everyone gets a little extra time to tackle all those things on their to-do lists. Now is a great time to get moving on energy efficiency projects in your home, with Maryland's rebates leading the way. Read on for:
- The New ecobeco.com Home Page - Join Our Conversation on facebook
- $100 Energy Audits and 50% Rebates State-Wide in Maryland for 2012
- eco-Tip: Safety First - Combustion Appliance Safety Testing During an Energy Audit
- Montgomery County Energy Efficiency Rebate Program is Closed
- Virginia Energy Efficiency Rebate Program Updates
- Low Interest Financing from Maryland for Energy Efficiency Upgrades
- ecobeco Referral Program is Extended Through March 31, 2012
- Sungevity Solar Power for Maryland Homes
- ecobeco Wins Angie's List 2011 Super Service Award!
- We'd Love to Hear Your Feedback
Enjoy! |
The New ecobeco.com Home Page - Join Our Conversation on facebook
|
| We are excited to announce tighter integration with facebook, which includes simulcasting our facebook content onto the new ecobeco home page. For those of you who have not visited our facebook site, we use it in many ways:
- Stories about our customers' experiences.
- We'll teach you about energy efficiency issues through our weekly auditor interviews.
- Breaking news.
- If you have general questions about energy efficiency, feel free to post them to our site and our auditors will answer them (If you have questions about your audit, please contact your auditor directly).
So check out our new home page: www.ecobeco.com
Then Join Our Conversation on facebook. www.facebook.com/ecobeco
|
$100 Energy Audits and 50% Rebates State-Wide in Maryland for 2012
|
| Well it's official! Pepco, BGE, Potomac Edison, and SMECO have launched one of the country's most aggressive Home Performance Rebate Programs right here in the State of Maryland.
The new program features:
- $100 Energy Audits (for a standard-sized home).
- Beginning February 1, all energy audits will include installation of CFLs, low-flow showerheads, water heater pipe wrap, and more, at no charge to the customer.
- 50% cash rebates on air sealing, insulation, and more. This cash rebate will be limited to $2,000 per household.
If you're ready to take advantage of these savings, give us a call today!
|
|
eco-Tip: Safety First - Combustion Appliance Safety Testing During an Energy Audit
|
|
 | | Corrosion from toxic gas fumes found in a Rockville home |
An energy audit consists of an array of testing procedures to identify air leakage, assess insulation levels and improve overall comfort in a home. One critical component is combustion safety testing in homes with gas, oil or propane appliances. These tests are aimed to determine if your water heater, furnace, boiler, and oven are operating safely, and that they are properly venting hazardous exhaust gas out of your home. These appliances produce an array of exhaust gases including carbon monoxide (CO), which can be very dangerous because it is an odorless, colorless gas that can cause sudden illness and death. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), there are 15,000 CO poisoning related visits to U.S. hospitals and 500 deaths each year. The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, and loss of consciousness.
Recently a customer in Rockville failed his combustion safety tests. We found that exhaust gas from their water heater and furnace was not properly venting out the chimney and was instead entering the living space. In our subsequent discussion, t he customer felt protected by CO detectors installed throughout the house, and so did not feel terribly concerned about the issue.
 Disconnected flue pipe found in a Silver Spring home
|
Shortly after this homeowner's audit, the customer needed to have some work done on their chimney and they discovered that it was almost completely blocked! The blockage prevented exhaust fumes from the combustion appliances from exiting the house. Surprisingly, this issue had been occurring for years but their CO alarms never sounded.
Why not? Alarms that detect only high concentrations may never sound if you are experiencing a persistent low level issue in your home. Low levels are still unhealthy and can cause illness symptoms, even if they are not potentially fatal. They should be resolved. What can you do? First, understand the limitations of CO detectors you buy in stores. Here are the American carbon monoxide detector requirements:
- at 30 ppm CO, the alarm must not activate for at least 8 hours
- at 70 ppm CO, the alarm must not activate before 60 minutes but must activate before 240 minutes
- at 150 ppm CO, the alarm must not activate before 10 minutes but must activate before 50 minutes
- at 400 ppm CO, the alarm must not activate before 4 minutes but must activate before 15 minutes
These standards are designed to make sure you get help before you have a serious injury. (It was also a response to complaints by Fire Departments of too many non-serious emergency calls) However, research has shown that long-term exposure to levels under 30 ppm can have negative impacts. Here are two excellent resources:
Learn about CO: DetectCarbonMonoxide.com The chart about half-way down the page explains important issues of low-level exposure.
Purchase a low-level CO detector: National Comfort Institute 3000
Second, an energy audit from ecobeco will identify major combustion appliance and exhaust gas venting issues as well as improve energy efficiency!
Third, when you get your furnace, boiler, water heater or oven serviced, make sure you ask the tech what the steady-state CO readings are and ask if they are safe.
|
| Montgomery County Energy Efficiency Rebate Program is Closed |
| UPDATE: The Montgomery County Rebate program is now 100% allocated.
We encourage all customers with approved reservations to complete your improvement work, if you have not yet done so. Please do not forget to contact ecobeco and schedule the final Test-Out. This follow up appointment is MANDATORY for completion of the rebate.
|
| Virginia Energy Efficiency Rebate Program Updates |
|
 The State of Virginia will close its Home Efficiency Rebate Program on February 17. This program provides money for home energy audits and improvements. They have now reduced the window to complete work after a reservation is approved to 30 days. This is to encourage the completion of any outstanding applications. For more information visit: http://www.dmme.virginia.gov/DE/ARRA-Public/HomeEfficiency.shtml The Appliance Rebate Program is now closed. The Super Efficient Home Appliance Rebate Program is now closed. For more information on Virginia's programs, visit: http://www.dmme.virginia.gov/DE/ARRA-Public/SEPRebate.shtml |
Low Interest Financing from Maryland for Energy Efficiency Upgrades
|
|  The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) has partnered with the Maryland Clean Energy Center (MCEC), with support from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop an innovative energy efficiency financing initiative for Maryland property owners. As part of the Governor's Smart, Green, and Growing Initiative, the Maryland Home Energy Loan Program (MHELP) will help Marylanders take control of their energy future and stimulate new "green collar" jobs. There are two interest rates available for eligible consumers - 6.99% or 9.99%. A rate of 6.99% APR is available for consumers completing a Home Performance Energy Audit (that's what ecobeco does) and installing various energy efficiency measures including insulation, duct sealing, weather stripping, equipment replacement, chimney repairs, and more. Details on what kind of work is eligible is available on their website. The first step toward securing a 6.99% loan is completing a Home Performance home energy audit performed by ecobeco. The resulting audit report will recommend several ways a home can save energy. Work performed by ecobeco's recommended contractors qualifies for the loan.
With audit recommendations in hand, Marylanders can start here to apply. Loans are available for primary residences only and condos are not eligible.
A second rate of 9.99% APR is available for consumers completing equipment upgrades only, such as a furnace or HVAC unit that meet MCEC and ENERGY STAR standards. A Home Performance energy audit is not required for the 9.99% program. Loans are available up to $30,000.
If you need help getting work done, or you want to schedule an audit, give us a call at (240) 396-2141.
Questions regarding the loan program can be directed the Maryland Clean Energy Center at 301-738-6280 or loans@mdcleanenergy.org.
|
ecobeco's Referral Program Extended to March 31
|
| Good news! ecobeco customers have been on a roll with referrals in 2012. We'd like to keep this positive momentum going and we are extending the Referral Program to March 31st!
As a reader of our newsletter, we know you support ecobeco's mission to help home owners save energy, money and the environment. We appreciate the many referrals made over the past few years.
We want to continue to reward you for all the referrals by putting a little money in your pockets when you refer your friends to ecobeco!
Click here to send an email to your friends about ecobeco's  services. Tell your friends about our award-winner Home Energy Audit services, and when they purchase an audit (and mention you when they book it), we'll send you $25. They can call us at 240-396-2141 to get started. Tell your friends about Sungevity Solar, and if they sign up for solar power using the "ecobeco" referral code and mention your name in the notes section of their iQuote, we'll send you a check for $250. One more thing to mention. You don't have to be a customer of ecobeco to take advantage of the referral program. Tell your friends about our program and they can tell their friends and we'll spread the green around! www.ecobeco.com/referral Check the referral program website for more information. Thanks for your support!
To qualify, audits must be booked and solar leases signed by March 31, 2012.
|
Sungevity Solar Power for Maryland Homes
|
| |
You finished the energy efficiency improvements in your home, and you are wondering what else can you do? Going solar seems like an interesting project, but fronting $40K for a system does not. No longer.
Sungevity Solar brings its groundbreaking Solar Lease to Maryland helping you do your part for the environment and increase your home's value. Sungevity is a top-ranked California solar company and has expanded its coverage area to Maryland. The solar lease features:
- $0 Down Lease or Prepaid Lease - Instead of paying full price up-front, you can lease the panels for a low monthly cost. Alternatively, by prepaying the lease, you can avoid finance charges and eliminate monthly payments completely.
- Instant Savings with Guaranteed Output - Sungevity's performance guarantee states upfront what your expected solar output will be so that there is no guesswork. Plus, most customers are saving an average of 15% on their monthly energy bills with the solar panels!
- Full-Service Solar - Sungevity maintains the panels at no cost to you for the life of the lease.
- A free, no-hassle iQuote within 24 hours - Using super-smart satellite technology, Sungevity can provide your iQuote in 24 hours. Then, the Sungevity sales consultant will answer your questions by phone. Everything is electronic. You can go from iQuote to contract as soon as you're ready.
- Be sure to use referral code "ecobeco" to ensure discounted pricing.
- Note the Sungevity Lease is currently available only to Maryland customers with FICO scores of 700 or higher. This requirement fluctuates, so we encourage customers with 600 - 700 FICO scores to obtain iQuotes so Sungevity can contact you when the lease requirements change.
- Sungevity solar is only available in Maryland
CURRENT SPECIALS:
Special 1: Receive one month's lease payment from ecobeco!* Be sure to enter referral code "ecobeco" on the last page when you create your iQuote. Or call us at (240) 396-2141 x 2 and we will be happy to submit the iQuote request for you.
Special 2: Sign your Lease and you'll get a new iPAD 2. This promotion is provided by Sungevity. Terms and Conditions on http://www.sungevity.com/oursungevity.
*ecobeco will provide a cash payment equal to one month of Sungevity lease payments up to a total of $150 per household (fully prepaid leaseholders will receive $150). Allow 6 weeks after activation of your solar system to receive payment. To qualify, customer must use the referral code 'ecobeco' when creating an iQuote. Visit http://www.ecobeco.com/solar for more information.
|
ecobeco Wins Angie's List 2011 Super Service Award!
|
| ecobeco's outstanding service record was again recognized for 2011 by Angie's List. We are the recipient of Angie's List Super Service Award in the Energy Efficiency Auditing category. The Super Service Award is earned by the top performing companies that achieve and maintain an A rating on Angie's List and show an excellent service record based on customer ratings. ecobeco has been awarded this honor 2 years in a row!
 Angie's List (www.angieslist.com) is a service company review site powered by reviews from actual customers in over 500 service categories. It's a great source of information for finding contractors to do work in your home.
If you are an Angie's List member, you can add your own review of ecobeco's service on Angie's List by visiting our page. Please help us spread the good word and thanks again to all our wonderful customers! It has been a pleasure serving you.
|
| We'd Love to Hear Your Feedback |
| |
We're a service business and your opinions and referrals matter to us!
Over the past 2 years, your feedback helped us win the 2010 & 2011 Super Service Award for Energy Efficiency Auditing from Angie's List. Please take a moment to share your experiences with our team and help inform your community about its local businesses. We appreciate your time to make our processes and products better!
Find out what other customers have been saying about ecobeco and leave a few comments of your own by going to Angie's List, Checkbook, Yelp and/or Facebook. If you are a member of these sites, please rate us and help grow our network!
Thank you!
|
We hope you enjoyed reading our newsletter. We'd love to hear from you. Please feel free to forward this information to friends and family.  Thanks,
Brian, Reuven, Cindy, Mike, Jonathan F, Jim, George, Gina, Nick R, Jonathan J, Jillian, Patrick, Olu, Ernesto, Suresh, Ellen, Andrew, and Diana
(240) 396-2141
info@ecobeco.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
