The economics of an organic lifestyle begins with an assessment of your physical plant, in this case your home. Let’s start with ENERGY STAR, a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. EPA introduced ENERGY STAR in 1992 as a voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promote energy-efficient products to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These products quickly caught on as a way in which families could save on their energy bills, is most cases about a third. major appliances: stoves, refrigerators, dish washers, clothes washers and dryers and air conditioners, office equipment, ceiling lighting fixtures, table and floor lamps, home electronics, residential heating and cooling equipment;
1. Contact your local utility company and inquire about an energy audit. In most cases these audits are free. In Massachusetts they not only provide an assessment of your energy consumption, but provide free fluorescent bulbs for each and every light fixture in your home.
2. For tax year 2010, the federal government homeowners could receive 30% of the purchase price of qualified energy efficient products up to $1,500 maximum.
3. For tax year 2011, 10% of cost up to $500.00 maximum or a specific amount from $50 – $300 Additional qualifying details include: Must be an existing home and your principal residence. New construction/rentals do not qualify.