Home builders and home owners can qualify for grants for environmentally-conscious houses.
Residential homeowners can receive grants for using sustainable energy sources such as solar energy or wind energy. In addition, homeowners can also often secure grants for making their homes more energy efficient. Grant funds usually are allocated by the federal government to states, which in turn, distribute the monies according to their own priorities. Securing a grant for making your home more energy efficient often involves getting pre-approved and working with certified suppliers and contractors, so be sure to do your research on procedures so you're not ineligible because of a technicality. In addition to government funds, a number of businesses and organizations offer grants for green homes, too.
California Solar Initiative
The California Solar Initiative provides cash back to those who install solar energy systems on their home. As long as you buy electricity from one of California's three investor-owned utilities -- Pacific Gas and Electric, Southern California Edison or San Diego Gas and Electric -- and you have an area such as a rooftop that gets un-obstructed sunlight from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. year round, you can qualify for cash back. Those who are customers of municipal utilities can also qualify for incentives through their municipal utility service provider.
Delaware Green Energy Program
This program offers grants to residents of the U.S. state of Delaware who install photovoltaic systems on their homes and who are customers of Delmarva Power company. You must use new parts; used parts or previously installed plants are not eligible. Funding can cover costs of materials, labor and required permits. Delmarva also offers grants for those who install geothermal heating and cooling system and wind turbines.
Santa Monica Green Building LEED for Homes
In the city of Santa Monica, California, multi-family green homes can receive grants of between $2,000 and $3,500, while single-family homes can qualify for between $3,000 and $8,000. The city provides information about build green residential homes, minimize environmental impacts associated with buildings, and also provides explanations of the green building design process. The program is linked with LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, an internationally recognized green building certification system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED provides third-party verification of a home's performance on metrics such as energy savings, water efficiency and stewardship of resources.
State of New York Green Residential Building Grant Program
The New York Star Energy Research and Development Authority runs a green residential building grant program that aims to encourage development of new green homes and retrofitting of existing homes to improve their environmental footprints. The program uses green building standards and criteria based on LEED for homes, as well. Builders, homeowners or a housing authority or other such organization can all apply; grants offered range from $5,125 for a single-family home to more than $13,000 for an 11-unit, multi-family building. Incentives will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until funds run out, or until October 31, 2013.
Tags: green homes, California Solar, California Solar Initiative, cash back, energy efficient, green building, home more
