Tag Archive for: insulation

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Affordable Financing Available for Insulation and Solar Power

The most significant and most important investment most of us have in our lives are our homes. Much of our time will be spent there, and it is the place where we seek comfort. When it comes to the energy efficiency of a home, energy lost equals dollars lost. A chance to invest smart dollars into your home, making your environment more comfortable year-round with the least out of pocket costs, and doing something positive for the environment just makes good sense.

The NEIF or National Energy Improvement Fund is the nation’s only certified “B corporation” energy efficiency and resiliency lender meeting the highest standards of social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability.

Loans are based on credit scores and range from 7.99% to 12.99%. A credit score of 720+ would place you in the 7.99% interest bracket. The average credit score for most Americans is 680 to 699, placing them in the 9.99% interest bracket. A credit score of 640 to 679 would put you in the 12.99% interest bracket, which is still cheaper than a credit card. Terms are 3, 5, or 10 years, and loans may be paid in full at any time without penalty. Credit scores are pulled from TransUnion. The loans are unsecured, and the percent is static and will never increase. The loans can be applied to primary residences, vacation homes, condominiums, and trailers on a fixed foundation. The amount clients can borrow ranges from $2,900.00 to $25,000.00.

To put things in a clearer perspective, 7.99% and 12.99% is only about $6.00 difference per month, and in the loan space of less than $10,000.00, 70% of the applicants will qualify. Only one loan can be taken at any one time, so we encourage homeowners to choose to perform the job wisely and seal, insulate, and ventilate. Doing one or two without the third will not provide the savings, comfort, and environmental impact you will desire. We invite you to play with the calculator on our website portal to see what your payments would be. Additionally, Attics and More does not require a down payment. This is really a win-win for the consumer all the way around.

Steps to Applying for NEIF:

1. Visit our website www.atticsandmore.com.
2. Scroll to the bottom of the page.
3. Click on the NEIF symbol.
4. This brings you to the Attics and More portal.
5. Scroll to the bottom to the Monthly Payment Estimator. By sliding the blue dots to the amount you are
interested in financing, you can compare what the monthly payment amounts would be.
6. Click on “Learn More About the National Energy Improvement Fund.”
7. Click on “Learn More” or “Apply Now.”
8. Click on “For Homeowners” at the top of the page to apply online or pay online.

Some important information for consideration:
Customers can apply individually or jointly, but if a joint application is chosen, the person with the lower credit score is the score the NEIF uses. For this reason, clients should file individually first to see if they can qualify for a better interest rate. If someone applies and the application kicks out, a message will explain what is missing. No down payment is required by Attics and More or the lender. If you finalize an application, the loan approval is good for 120 days from the date completed and electronically signed by the applicant.

After you apply for a loan, a decision is made immediately. If you are not working due to being retired or disabled, the client must choose “other income” on the application requiring additional time for the income to be verified.

We are proud to partner with the NEIF. We take your relationship with our financing company just as seriously as you do. We want our customers to feel comfortable entering into an agreement with this reputable company. Now is the time to take advantage of this fair and transparent financing relationship and show your home and our Earth a little love.

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How Climate Change Affects Home Energy Use

According to broad scientific consensus, annual average temperatures across the U.S. have increased over the last century with the trend expected to continue.

A report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) notes:

“Extreme high temperatures are projected to increase even more than average temperatures. Heat waves are projected to become more intense and cold waves less intense. The number of days above 90°F is projected to rise while the number of days below freezing is projected to decline.”

And as the world experiences more extreme climate changes – notably warmer temperatures – energy consumption and costs will increase as well.

An EPA study reveals:

“If the nation’s climate warms by 1.8°F, the demand for energy used for cooling is expected to increase by about 5-20%, while the demand for energy used for heating is expected to decrease by about 3-15%.

Net expenditure in annual heating and cooling could increase by 10% ($26 billion in 1990 dollars) with a 4.5°F warming by the end of the century, and by 22% ($57 billion in 1990 dollars) with a warming of 9.0°F.”

And, while efforts to mitigate the damaging effects of climate change continue in some nations, homeowners will bear the brunt of increased energy costs for at least the next decade.

The EPA suggests homeowners can battle climate-change increased energy demand by reducing air leaks and drafts, primarily by sealing their home’s building envelope. [A building envelope is the physical separator between the conditioned and unconditioned environment of a building including the resistance to air, water, heat,[1] light, and noise[2] transfer.] The agency also notes that adding  insulation to attics can “save up to 20% on heating and cooling costs and significantly enhance home comfort with comprehensive sealing and insulating measures.”

Roughly 90 percent of existing homes are considered under-insulated, according to a 2009 survey. “If all U.S. homes were fitted with insulation based on the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), residential electricity use nationwide would drop by about 5 percent and natural gas use by more than 10 percent,” Jonathan Levy, professor of environmental health at Boston University and lead researcher, said.

Home energy-analysis experts agree that homeowners should pay attention to the mantra “Seal, Insulate and Ventilate” when it comes to optimizing energy savings. However, some homeowners think they can only pay attention to one or two of these methods. Neglecting any one area of energy loss is like suddenly finding three holes in a boat while on the high seas. The question would never be: “Which hole should we plug first?” Plug them all at once, Captain! The great news is that Attics and More offers affordable financing with great ease of confidential application right from our website.

SmarterHouse.org points out that hidden air leaks in your home can account for significant heat loss: “In the average home, small openings in the outer shell of a house account for almost 30% of total heat lost.”

In addition to enhanced energy efficiency, proper sealing reduces the amount of drafts, noise, and moisture inside a home and will equalize temperature differences in rooms. Ventilation goes hand-in-hand with sealing techniques. The Department of Energy notes: “Ventilation for cooling is the least expensive and most energy-efficient way to cool buildings. Ventilation works best when combined with techniques to avoid heat buildup in your home.”

As noted above, nine out of 10 American homes are underinsulated. Heat loss due to insulation issues in walls, roofs, and flooring combined can account for 45% of total house loss.

An energy audit of a home’s insulation can not only discover energy savings but also uncover dangers from unsafe material.  Also, some energy providers may offer rebates for a professional home energy assessment and air sealing and insulation projects. A qualified specialist will begin such an audit with an attic inspection. EnergyStar recommends considering a professional attic-insulation inspector if a homeowner experiences:

  • “Difficult attic access and limited space to work
  • Wet or damp insulation, indicating a leaky roof
  • Moldy or rotted attic rafters or floor joists, indicating moisture problems
  • Kitchen, bathroom or clothes dryer vents that exhaust moist air directly into the attic space instead of outdoors
  • Little or no attic ventilation
  • Knob and tube wiring (pre-1930), which can be a fire hazard when in contact with insulation.”

In addition to enhancements such as eShield insulation, homes may benefit from solar-powered attic ventilation systems.

Climate change is real science, and it’s really happening. Contact us today to discuss how we can help you create an energy strategy for climate change on a complimentary basis.

 

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