Comments on: Job Growth and Energy Independence http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2010/01/11/job-growth-and-energy-independence/ If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen. — Samuel Adams Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:18:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Ken Huck http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2010/01/11/job-growth-and-energy-independence/comment-page-1/#comment-38173 Ken Huck Mon, 18 Jan 2010 07:12:10 +0000 http://scrutinyhooligans.us/?p=10732#comment-38173 Congratulations on this initiative to improve energy efficiency and move toward renewable sources of energy. However we seem to be missing a major opportunity here by failing to signal home builders about the need to substantially improving the energy performance of the new homes they construct. The most efficient houses being built in Asheville today are designed with the intention of reducing the energy used for heating and cooling by 80% or more before renewable energy is factored in. Check out Chris Otahal's Superinsulated house at http://susten.com/?page_id=19 and http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/think-spot/passive-house-what-do-you-think and More on Superinsulation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superinsulation The payback for this highly efficient house is expected to be instant because the house is projected to cost less to own and operate on a annual basis than then the same house built to code minimums. Thousands of homes like this have been built in Europe. The British have Home Energy Performance Labels (like car fuel economy labels but for houses) and are rapidly moving their Building Codes toward Zero Carbon Development. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_efficiency_in_British_housing#2006_changes If you want to find out how you to can have a home that makes the Earth sing while saving you money without compromising on comfort give us a call. Ken Huck Ecosavvy Energy 828-350-7529 Congratulations on this initiative to improve energy efficiency and move toward renewable sources of energy. However we seem to be missing a major opportunity here by failing to signal home builders about the need to substantially improving the energy performance of the new homes they construct.

The most efficient houses being built in Asheville today are designed with the intention of reducing the energy used for heating and cooling by 80% or more before renewable energy is factored in.

Check out Chris Otahal’s Superinsulated house at
http://susten.com/?page_id=19
and
http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/think-spot/passive-house-what-do-you-think
and More on Superinsulation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superinsulation

The payback for this highly efficient house is expected to be instant because the house is projected to cost less to own and operate on a annual basis than then the same house built to code minimums. Thousands of homes like this have been built in Europe. The British have Home Energy Performance Labels (like car fuel economy labels but for houses) and are rapidly moving their Building Codes toward Zero Carbon Development.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_efficiency_in_British_housing#2006_changes

If you want to find out how you to can have a home that makes the Earth sing while saving you money without compromising on comfort give us a call.

Ken Huck
Ecosavvy Energy
828-350-7529

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]]> By: eemilla http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2010/01/11/job-growth-and-energy-independence/comment-page-1/#comment-37901 eemilla Mon, 11 Jan 2010 22:29:16 +0000 http://scrutinyhooligans.us/?p=10732#comment-37901 I hope this is a big success for the city and that it compels the county to get on board too. Hopefully all the retrofitting will reduce consumption enough to keep Progress Energy quite about any expansion plans. I hope this is a big success for the city and that it compels the county to get on board too. Hopefully all the retrofitting will reduce consumption enough to keep Progress Energy quite about any expansion plans.

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]]> By: Tebbe Davis http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2010/01/11/job-growth-and-energy-independence/comment-page-1/#comment-37899 Tebbe Davis Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:44:01 +0000 http://scrutinyhooligans.us/?p=10732#comment-37899 I love this proposal. I understand the caution about foreclosure but as you mention the benefits stay with the home. The facet of rolling the payments into tax bill in exchange for the full benefit of energy efficiency is just genius. I love this proposal. I understand the caution about foreclosure but as you mention the benefits stay with the home. The facet of rolling the payments into tax bill in exchange for the full benefit of energy efficiency is just genius.

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]]> By: Gordon Smith http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2010/01/11/job-growth-and-energy-independence/comment-page-1/#comment-37896 Gordon Smith Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:35:50 +0000 http://scrutinyhooligans.us/?p=10732#comment-37896 Barry, It's a model used in other municipalities successfully. Barry,

It’s a model used in other municipalities successfully.

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]]> By: Barry Summers http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2010/01/11/job-growth-and-energy-independence/comment-page-1/#comment-37894 Barry Summers Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:12:31 +0000 http://scrutinyhooligans.us/?p=10732#comment-37894 Sorry - you answered while I was typing. So when a bank forecloses now, they are still paying the normal property tax, and if they foreclose on a home with this assessment, they are obligated to pay it as well? How common is this sort of piggy-backing, and is it certain that banks will pay it? Sorry – you answered while I was typing. So when a bank forecloses now, they are still paying the normal property tax, and if they foreclose on a home with this assessment, they are obligated to pay it as well? How common is this sort of piggy-backing, and is it certain that banks will pay it?

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]]> By: Barry Summers http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2010/01/11/job-growth-and-energy-independence/comment-page-1/#comment-37893 Barry Summers Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:08:05 +0000 http://scrutinyhooligans.us/?p=10732#comment-37893 I like this proposal very much - but Jim asks some good questions, primarily, what risk to the City is there in case of foreclosure? I like this proposal very much – but Jim asks some good questions, primarily, what risk to the City is there in case of foreclosure?

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]]> By: Gordon Smith http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2010/01/11/job-growth-and-energy-independence/comment-page-1/#comment-37892 Gordon Smith Mon, 11 Jan 2010 19:53:48 +0000 http://scrutinyhooligans.us/?p=10732#comment-37892 Good questions, Jim. 1) The monetary award remains with the property, not the homeowner. So if the home is sold, the new owner assumes the payback. If the bank forecloses, then the bank assumes the payback. 2) Since the payback is rolled into the property tax bill, there is already adequate staffing. 3) Yes. 4) No. Thanks for supporting energy efficiency and for understanding how much money you save by using it! Good questions, Jim.

1) The monetary award remains with the property, not the homeowner. So if the home is sold, the new owner assumes the payback. If the bank forecloses, then the bank assumes the payback.

2) Since the payback is rolled into the property tax bill, there is already adequate staffing.

3) Yes.

4) No.

Thanks for supporting energy efficiency and for understanding how much money you save by using it!

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]]> By: Jim Reeves http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2010/01/11/job-growth-and-energy-independence/comment-page-1/#comment-37891 Jim Reeves Mon, 11 Jan 2010 19:40:37 +0000 http://scrutinyhooligans.us/?p=10732#comment-37891 What happens in case of default?, job growth is still very negative,if the home is foreclosed by the mortgage holder due to job loss related nonpayment, what happens? What limits administrative costs? Would loan proceeds apply to homeowner applied retrofitting? What about new construction? With Carter era solar tax credits solar technology prices were artificially increased due to government subsidy, while I don't know this would happen locally this would reduce energy savings and extend the period of cost recoupment to the consumer. Otherwise I like the proposed program I like efficiency, my small well insulated active solar assisted,small scale PV integrated dwelling has a light bill of $25-$30 per month (and had lights and power during the 4 day power outage) What happens in case of default?, job growth is still very negative,if the home is foreclosed by the mortgage holder due to job loss related nonpayment, what happens? What limits administrative costs? Would loan proceeds apply to homeowner applied retrofitting? What about new construction? With Carter era solar tax credits solar technology prices were artificially increased due to government subsidy, while I don’t know this would happen locally this would reduce energy savings and extend the period of cost recoupment to the consumer. Otherwise I like the proposed program I like efficiency, my small well insulated active solar assisted,small scale PV integrated dwelling has a light bill of $25-$30 per month (and had lights and power during the 4 day power outage)

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