Archive for the 'Home Ownership' Category
The Basics of Owning a Green Home in Arizona
July 23rd, 2009
Categories:Home Ownership
Green home ownership is quickly becoming a high priority for home buyers. Especially in Arizona where many of us wonder why we can’t harvest more of the never ending heat that beats down on our homes every day. Not to mention, water conservation is always a big concern us desert dwellers.
The number of ways to turn a home green are constantly growing. At the same time the countless choices can become overwhelming. Lets take a step back and look at the basics of being green. Starting with the infamous recycle logo and moving on to water, electricity and natural gas.
We will cover:
- The 3 R’s of Being Green
- Water Conservation in Arizona
- Electricity Cutting
- Natural Gas Reduction
The 3 R’s of Being Green
Reduce – It’s important but the hardest to do
So much of our culture and economy has been built on the idea of Read the rest of this entry »
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Draining Dollars from Water Heating Bills
July 16th, 2009
Categories:Home Ownership
When it comes to buying an energy efficient home, windows, insulation, appliances and lighting tend to get the most attention. What’s commonly overlook is the amount of energy used by the water heater.
According to the Department of Energy, between 10 and 20% of a household’s total energy consumption goes to the water heater. There used to only be one type of water heater with two options: electric or gas. Today the types of water heaters available are growing and so are the incentives and regulations to start converting to a more energy efficient model.
Here are the topics we’ll cover:
- 4 Types of Water Heaters
- How to Select a New Water Heater
- Resources for Finding State and Federal Incentives on Water Heaters
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Encumbrancing with Liens and Easements
July 11th, 2009
Categories:Home Ownership
What is an Encumbrance?
An Encumbrance is a claim, charge or liability that attaches to real estate. An encumbrance does not have possessor’s interest in real property. Instead it is a right or an interest held by someone other than the owner of the property.
There are two main types of encumbrances:
- Liens
- Encumbrances
Liens
A lien is a charge against the property that secures debt for Read the rest of this entry »
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6 Tips to Cooling and Heating Your Home Efficiently
June 30th, 2009
Categories:Home Ownership
Summer’s here and I thought it would be fitting to write about heating and cooling your home efficiently… however, those of you in Arizona using the heater this time of year, should probably seek some help… that or close the freezer and fridge already!
The average home uses half of their energy to heat and cool the home. With such a big portion of the energy bill going towards heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC), it pays to take sometime to make the home more efficient when it comes to heating and cooling.
6 Tips to Cooling and Heating Your Home Efficiently
- Change your air filter regularly
- Get an annual HVAC tune up
- Install a programmable thermostat
- Seal your heating and cooling ducts
- Consider installing Energy Star qualified equipment
- Ask about proper installation of your new equipment
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