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How much of our nation\u2019s energy would you guess single family homes use? <\/p>\nHow much of our nation\u2019s energy would you guess single family homes use? <\/p>\n
Hint: include businesses in your guesstimate. <\/p>\n
It\u2019s somewhere around 20%. And that\u2019s a big chunk. <\/p>\n
And, believe it or not, some contractors don\u2019t construct even the most modern homes to be anywhere near energy-efficient. Yes, this does happen on brand new homes. <\/p>\n
At the same time, we get that while you\u2019re all about energy-efficiency, sometimes things get in your way. <\/p>\n
Here are some of those things, and what you can do about them: <\/p>\n
1. Upfront Costs<\/strong><\/p>\n Yeah, you\u2019d love to have solar panels. But, they cost $20,000 or more to install. That\u2019s the cost of a couple new cars! <\/p>\n Plus, you can\u2019t wait two decades before they start paying for themselves. <\/p>\n You\u2019re all for energy-efficiency. But you gotta be practical too. <\/p>\n You could use a home equity loan. But, fail to pay that, and you lose your home. <\/p>\n One solution could be \u201con-bill financing\u201d offered by utility companies. Their goal is to finance your energy efficiency improvement so you can afford it. <\/p>\n But, they also want to make sure you get to the point where you\u2019re actually saving money as fast as possible. <\/p>\n They may not help you finance solar panels. But, you may be able to finance smaller projects which pay for themselves quickly. <\/p>\n 2. Waiting Too Long Before You Save<\/strong><\/p>\n We hinted at this one already. And yes, it\u2019s a true pain. <\/p>\n Why install new windows in your home if you won\u2019t save a single dollar until 15 years from now?<\/p>\n And even when you do save, are the savings significant enough to make any huge difference to you? <\/p>\n You might only save a couple hundred bucks a year after 15 years. Is that worth the wait? <\/p>\n One way to reduce this barrier is to take advantage of state and federal tax credits, if available. <\/p>\n The other lies in focusing on projects with quick payback periods. <\/p>\n For example, a smart thermostat pays back for itself in just a few months. LED lights, bought on sale, do the same. <\/p>\n You\u2019ll have to Google the topic for more ideas. But, do be certain energy-efficiency improvements with quick returns exist. <\/p>\n