Homeowners Urged to Wrap Energy-Efficiency Improvements Into Home Mortgage Refinancing
Take Advantage of Lower Interest Rates
With the boom on refinancing of home mortgages to take advantage of lower interest rates, the Alliance to Save Energy urges homeowners who are refinancing to consider wrapping into the package energy-efficiency home improvements that would reduce their monthly energy bills and increase the nation's energy supply.
"As energy costs rise and demand exceeds supplies, this is a great time for consumers to improve the energy-efficiency of their home and obtain tax advantages of tax deductible interest on these upgrades," advises Alliance President David M. Nemtzow.
Today's energy-efficient technologies, notes the Alliance, provide multiple benefits to consumers as well as the environment:
- Decrease home energy bills and energy use.
- Increase home comfort.
- Decrease pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
To make the greatest difference, the Alliance leader advises homeowners to first look at their heating and air conditioning systems and thermostats which control them (consider a programmable thermostat), and then the shell of their home to take care of energy "leaks" (caulking, weather stripping, insulation and windows), refrigerators, and other appliances, hot water heaters, and home electronics. For all of these, the Alliance suggests that consumers ask for products with the ENERGY STAR label, the symbol of energy-efficiency, to reduce related energy expenses by some 30 percent in each category.
