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KCK SmartHomes Tour Attracts Buyers
BPU recently partnered with the Unified Government to show home buyers the excellent housing options available in Wyandotte County. The KCK SmartHomes Tour - which took place September 7-21 and was supported by Nebraska Furniture Mart, Business West, the KCK Chamber and Wyandotte Development, Inc. - featured a range of new, high-quality homes in conjunction with the 2008 Parade of Homes.
The tour focused on the energy efficiency of the new homes. Participating subdivisions feature homes with electric heat pumps, showcasing a longtime BPU heat pump savings program offered to builders and homeowners. A number of the homes are Energy Star certified, as well.
"The tour displayed the beautiful housing that’s available in Wyandotte County, but also showed how affordable it is to live here," said George Powell, director of economic development and retail services of BPU and tour organizer.
In addition to the opportunity to see what Wyandotte County has to offer, tour participants also were invited to take place in a sweepstakes drawing sponsored by the Kansas City Board of Public Utilities, Unified Government of Wyandotte County, Nebraska Furniture Mart (NFM) and local area builders for six prizes, including a grand prize of a $2,000 gift card to NFM. The grand prize was won by Jim Grant, a resident of
Olathe, KS.
New Tax Credit Saves Thousands for First-Time Home Buyers
First time home buyers, now is the time to jump into the market: H.R. 3221, the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, allows you to take a $7,500 tax credit from the purchase of a single-family home, townhome or condominium.
Any home buyer who has not owned a home in the past three years and is a U.S. citizen who files taxes is eligible for the program, as long as the sale closes on or after April 9, 2008, and before July 1, 2009. Home buyers can take the credit on their 2008 or 2009 tax return.
Some income limits do apply. Singles can claim the full credit if their adjusted gross annual income is less than $75,000, while married couples can make up to $150,000 and still qualify for the full benefit. Partial benefits are available to singles making more than $75,000, but less than $95,000, with married couples allowed up to $170,000 AIG for a partial credit.
The tax credit program also has payback provisions. It can serve as an interest-free loan to be repaid over a period of 15 years. A home buyer claiming a $7,500 credit would repay $500 a year for 15 years, and if the home was sold before then, the rest of the credit is due from the profit of the sale. If no profit is made, the remaining credit payback is forgiven.
For more information on the tax credit, visit www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com.
Energy Conservation: Save with High Performance Windows and Lighting
Want to conserve more energy? Consider replacing leaky windows and using fluorescent lighting.
High Tech Windows
Double pane wood or vinyl windows can save up to 32 percent in cooling and 24 percent in heating costs, according to the Efficient Windows Collaborative. They are especially effective when combined with high-performance heating and cooling equipment. But be sure the windows are installed correctly. If the installation is poorly done, the resulting air infiltration can erase the benefit of high performance windows.
Today's high performance windows are designed to deliver maximum efficiency. Double- and triple-pane, high-tech designs often feature glass that reduces glare, heat and fading, gas fills to insulate between panels, and glazing that lets in light but not heat. Look for windows that provide an Energy Star label, the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) label, and a warranty from the manufacturer.
Efficient Fluorescents
Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) provide the convenience of incandescent fixtures while providing an energy efficient lighting option. CFLs replace incandescents that are three or four times their wattage - saving as much as 75 percent of the initial lighting energy, since they use less than a third of the energy used by traditional bulbs. The higher initial cost is worth it: CFLs can last up to 15 times longer.
CFLs are mostly designed for indoor use, since they operate best within a specific temperature range. They're ideal for hard-to-reach areas, since they don't have to be changed often. Only a few special models can be dimmed, but there are CFLs that fit in most fixtures designed for incandescent lamps.
Tips for Going Green
Did you know that "going green" can be low cost? The following tips will help you save money when building a new home, or selecting energy efficient technologies for existing housing.
Electricity
- When building a new home, situate it to take advantage of natural lighting - the east, south and west facades usually receive the most sunlight.
- Place windows to provide good natural ventilation.
- Install light-colored roofing to reflect heat away from the building.
- Install overhangs on south-facing windows, which receive the most heat from the summer sun.
- Install attic fans or ceiling fans to improve air circulation and lower cooling and heating bills.
- Install combined hydronic heating equipment and high R-value insulation.
- Select Energy Star appliances.
Water
- Design water-efficient landscapes, including drought tolerant plants, xeriscape landscape designs, and efficient irrigation systems (such as drip or micro irrigation).
- Minimize turf in your landscape.
- Install water-efficient toilets and fixtures.
- Use permeable paving materials to allow storm water to percolate into the soil.
Materials
- Use 30-50 percent fly ash in concrete to improve durability and reduce the amount of cement needed and decrease effects of cement production on the environment.
- Use engineered wood for joists, headers and sheathing, which reduces demand for the cutting down of old forest growth.
- Use recycled-content insulation, drywall and carpet.
Indoor Air Quality
- Use low- or no-volatile organic compound (VOC) paint to eliminate odors from VOCs.
- Use formaldehyde-free or fully sealed materials for cabinets and counters.
- Vent range hood to the outside to improve indoor air quality.
- Install a carbon dioxide detector.
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