Energy saving is our utmost priority now a days. There are many energy saving initiative working in the country. One of the oldest one is the Clean Air Act which is part of the US Environmental Protection Energy Agency. The Clean Air Act reached its 40th year this year. The act has helped several cities in America curtail its pollution levels, cut greenhouse gases, create cleaner power plants, reduced acid deposits in lakes and streams, reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by introducing energy efficient engines etc. Celebrating their 40th anniversary, people involved in the program pledged to continue the superior work for next 40 years with continuous innovation in their processes.

Another agency which is committed to energy saving is US Green Building Council. They construct energy saving green buildings that are price efficient as well. The organization has different partner firms that include non profit organizations, environmentalists, corporations, common citizens etc. According to their sources, residential buildings in the United States emit about 39% of carbon dioxide and uses up to 40% of energy. If the buildings are made energy efficient, up to 85% of the energy needs can be fulfilled by them. If these buildings are constructed under strict guidelines it can help create about 2.5 million jobs in different fields.

The US Green Building Council provides LEED certification in designing and construction of energy saving green buildings. There are at least 35,000 construction projects that are being constructed under this method today. Buildings constructed under this scheme helps citizens and corporate organizations save money, build healthy environment and reduce releasing of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

In a recent report, nearly 350 companies and organizations urged the Congress to pass the legislation to restore Property Assessed Clean Energy Program back to life. The program was in progress in about 22 states in the country. However, the program had been put to halt by Federal Housing Finance Agency. The FHFA has stopped the program and suspended many people involved in them.

The Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program allows properties owners to fund different energy equipments and systems for their building and they could repay back the money by the next 20 years through annual evaluation on their property tax bill. Here again, PACE program has the capacity to generate several jobs in different sector hence boosting the economic development of the country.

The per capita energy consumption in the US touched a record low last year in 41 years. Americans have purchased more energy saving appliances and light bulbs, decreased the running of their A.C.’s and even started line drying their clothes. But why is it that the US still uses more amount of energy than any other country in the world? According to a survey by Consumer Reports on 1500 home owners in the US about their experience with energy saving in the last 12 months – energy saving is a very difficult proposition.

While home owners resume their various energy saving activities, there is a need for the government to take more action. Energy saving potential has been wasted because of confusing and complicated rebate programs along with outdated and poor standards of Energy Star and testing. Consumer Reports proposed five major steps necessary to make the US a leader world wide in energy saving and efficiency:

• Toughen energy Standards: It is good that many products have turned to be energy saving. But when excessive number of products get the Energy Star qualification, it becomes even more hard for consumers to realize which the exceptionally good products are. Hence, the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) must focus on tightening energy Starr qualifications. When it is found that over 35% of products in a particular category qualify the environment standard, it is time to toughen the qualifying standards.
• Update testing procedures: Outdated procedures of testing result in over looking of new features. Consumer reports identified that appliances performed differently under Dept. Of Energy test conditions compared to homes. To be meaningful, testing procedures for energy saving must be constantly updated and toughened to keep track of changes in products.
• Make incentives easy and simple: In the past year, improvements or purchases were made by 91% of home owners which qualified for tax credit or tax rebate but barely a quarter of home owners said they made use of incentives. This was mainly because either they believed they did not qualify or they were confused over rules or they had the attitude that the rebate was not worth the trouble of seeking it.
• Follow foreign policy: The European Union has imposed a progressive measure to combat wastage of standby power- the energy consumed by a utility when it is not being used – by inflicting on appliances a one-watt maximum usage that will be changed in 2013 to 0.5 watts. In Australia they have begun field testing appliances to ensure their standards keep up with energy use in the real world.
• Put pressure on Manufacturers: Stiffer fines and punitive action must be imposed on manufacturers who do not confirm to energy saving rules. When any violation is punished, maximum publicity must be provided to let consumers know about the commitment to energy saving.

These are some of the measures by which the energy saving efforts can be improvised to make the nation more energy efficient.

If you are thinking of making your home more energy efficient there is good news for you as there are a large number of state incentive programs that offer grants to home owners who are working on projects that are resulting in energy saving at the domestic level. While there are various grants as well as tax incentives available across the country, most of the schemes are being funded at the state level and are distinctly different from each other as different local government bodies are involved in each region.

In the state of Chicago home owners can avail an energy saving grant of up to $2000 through which they can install more energy efficient heating and cooling systems as well as construct rain and water storage units. The scheme can also be availed by home owners who are interested in setting up solar heating and lighting panels in and around their residence. The incentives are being funded through the Chicago Bungalow Association who is primarily granting $1000 incentives for home owners who are interested in insulating their interiors with certified windows and doors.

A much larger energy saving grant is being provided in the South of California by the State Gas Company which is offering a cash incentive of $300,000 for home owners who want to make their building more energy efficient through the installation of better insulation and heating systems. The Department of Agriculture in this state is also offering a special incentive to the home owners located in the country side through under the Farm Bill which is targeted at making country homes more energy efficient.

In states such as Michigan the Energy Star Home Grant Program has become very successful, through which prospective home owners and builders can avail financial incentives for installing insulated roofing as well as temperature control windows and doors. This energy saving grant can also be utilized by home owners while shopping for domestic appliances which have been starred under the program. Some of the appliances that can be picked up under the grant include refrigerators, coolers, and air conditioners, heating systems, kitchen gadgets as well as vacuum cleaners and room heaters.

The Residential Energy Efficiency Grant Program that has been launched in the state of Florida is also offering attractive incentives to home owners who can carry out renovations in their house and receive a cash incentive for installing solar panels on the roof for heating water as well as running domestic appliances. Under the scheme, the state department has deployed various energy advisors which can help home owners in adopting various affordable as well as energy saving options which can qualify for the grant.

Now is the time to get Eco-friendly and help save our environment by reducing our energy consumption. Advantages of taking energy saving initiatives are greater comfort in life, reduced energy bills and lesser impact on environment.

Energy Efficiency Initiatives may include use of:

• Highly Efficient Water Heater
• Better Heating System
• Shower Heads with Low Flow
• Faucet Aerators with Low Flow
• Highly Efficient boilers and furnaces
• Fireplaces of natural gas with electronic ignition

Consumers may receive rebate of up to $500 when they replace or upgrade their furnace or boilers. Also if you get an energy audit done at your home you will get $25 worth of weatherization material free of cost.

CentrePoint Energy’s Green Street Program

CentrePoint Energy during the Minnesota State Fair invites visitors to Green Street. In the Green Street visitors can ask questions as to how energy audit will improve energy efficiency of their home. They may also know how to get Federal tax incentives and qualification requirements for rebates on appliances.

CenterPoint Energy allows it consumers up to 3 free shower head and 3 free faucet aerators even if they have already participated in any of its programs.

Home Energy Squad is a novel initiative of Xcel Energy and CentrePoint Energy in which the technicians conduct a quick examination of house for energy saving. After consulting with the customer they install the devices or appliances at the very moment in a single visit. The items installed during such energy audit may include:

• CFL Light bulbs
• Weather Stripping
• Programmable Thermostats

Energy Saving Programs in Stockton Homes

Getting energy efficient replacement in a house may involve getting several contractors at the same time proving to be very costly but Stockton officials have started two projects to tackle this problem. They have received $3 million from California Energy Commission for research in this area.

The two projects are:

1. Setting up of laboratories in 4 vacant homes of Stockton to get first hand research done in similar conditions.
2. Retrofitting bulk number of homes together to judge whether the cost comes out to be less on the basis of economies of scale.

The researchers are looking to find the most efficient combination of improvements which may include improving the lighting system by using efficient light bulbs or installing new windows.