Affiliated Organizations
Green Living
Does Foam Insulation Really Cost More?
An effective, continuous air barrier system assists in controlling air movement into and out of your home. The heating and air conditioning systems work more efficiently. You save money!
The United States Department of Energy estimates “uncontrolled” air leakage can account for 30% or more of a home’s heating and cooling costs, and contribute to problems with moisture.
Air can go straight through glass fiber and cellulose, but it can’t go through COMFORT FOAM® closed-cell technology. It is more than just insulation – it also provides an air barrier to properly seal your home.
Megan Luckan from Superior Insulation says “Closed cell foam gives high R value and air sealing and is the best bang for the buck, when it comes to thermally insulating your home”.
When considering building to a green standard (Energy Star, Build Green Utah, LEED for Homes), check the additional points gained with your choice of insulation. More important, check available rebates from Questar & Rocky Mountain Power and State or Federal tax credits that may apply. Enjoy greater comfort and lower utility costs for years to come!
At the end of the day, choosing Closed-Cell Foam is an easy decision.
For more information call Megan Luckan, Superior Insulation 801 972-3737 (cell) or MeganL@superiorinsulation.com
Blog post contributed by Tom Ward, Certified EcoBroker in Park City. For all Real Estate needs in Summit and Wasatch Counties, Tom can be found at UtahGreenHomes.com
Household Hazardous Waste Collection
A Household Hazardous Waste Collection event will be held on July 22nd from 7 to 10 am in Sugarhouse Park at the Big Field Pavilion 1300 East – 1700 East 2100 South. Salt Lake City Police will be on hand to accept prescription Drugs. Electronics are also being accepted.
The next (and last) household hazardous waste collection event is scheduled for August 26th, so as you clean out your basements and garages, keep the date in mind.
This free event is sponsored by Salt Lake City Public Utilities and Salt Lake Valley Health and is only for Salt Lake Valley residents. If you have questions, call 801.313.6700.
Recycled Granite Pavers
While attending the Live Green SLC! Festival in Salt Lake City this past weekend, I discovered a new player in the recycled home decor category: Recycled Stone Products. They salvage left-over material from stone fabricators in the mountain west region, and shape them into pavers for a beautiful and 100% recycled look for your patio.
According to one of the owners, Levi Ernest, the cost is about the same as regular garden pavers – yet they are keeping millions of pounds of waste out our landfills each year!
Check them out online or contact Levi at 801 580-3305.
Top 10 City Lists – Salt Lake City #7
Every year, RelocateAmerica.com judges U.S. cities based on different criteria, and puts out their Top 10 Lists for those considering a move. While we didn’t make the Top 10 Overall, Salt Lake City did make it to the number seven spot for recreation (of course, those who live here aren’t surprised…but just what does Ithica, NY have over us?!):
Top 10 Recreation Cities:
1. Boulder, CO
2. Santa Cruz, CA
3. Flagstaff, AZ
4. St. George, UT
5. Ithaca, NY
6. Corvallis, OR
7. Salt Lake City, UT
8. Stevens Point, WI
9. Wilmington, NC
10. Portland, OR
See the other Top 10 Lists.
Recycling Efforts in Salt Lake City
Who says recycling isn’t working?
As joint owners of the landfill Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County each received a one time dividend of $7 million dollars from landfill funds that were intended to cover some of the expenses to close the landfill. Due to waste diversion efforts, the life of the landfill has increased, and we expect it to remain open for at least 50 more years. The City has chosen to use the funds to support further sustainability efforts.
The “waste diversion efforts” means, in large part, RECYCLING.
Utah Renewable Energy Conference
Are you interested in learning more about Solar Energy? Have you considered converting your home to this energy efficient system? The paybacks might be quicker than you ever thought – especially now, since more than 50% of the cost of a new solar energy installation could be covered with available tax credits and the new rebate!
Come to the Salt Lake Community College this Saturday, March 27, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. to learn more – for only $5.00 admission.
For details, please see www.utsolar.org
Now is the Time to Go Solar
Take advantage of the new renewable energy rebate for home & business owners while it lasts!
The Utah State Energy Program will be offering a new rebate for home and business owners that install solar energy. That means if you install solar energy on your home or business you could get a check in the mail for thousands of dollars back! This is a brand new program intended to stimulate economic growth and create jobs, but it won’t last forever and everyone will have questions about how it works. To help answer those questions and provide the info you need to take advantage of the new rebate while it is available, the Utah Solar Energy Association is hosting the Utah Renewable Energy Conference 2010 that will provide a physical location where you can come and learn about the new rebate and how much money it can save you. This event will be held on Saturday, March 27th from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and it will be located at the Salt Lake Community College Miller Campus off I-15 at 9750 South in Sandy. Admission is $5 for an individual or $10 for a family, and your conference admission will get you $100 off a solar energy system from any of the solar installers participating in the conference! For more information and to register for the event visit www.utsolar.org.
Home Buyer Tax Credit Made Simple
With so much buzz about the first-time (and “long time”) homebuyers tax credits, I thought it might be helpful to post a straightforward summary of the rules that govern these credits:
General Rules:
- A “first time home buyer” is defined as someone who has not owned a primary home in the last three years. If you are a “first-time home buyer,” your tax credit will amount to 10% of the purchase price of your new home, not to exceed $8,000.
- A “long-time resident” is defined as someone who has lived in the same primary home for 5 out of the past 8 years. If you are a “long-time resident”, your tax credit will amount to 10% of the purchase price of your new home not to exceed $6,500.
- The tax credit does not need to be paid back if you continue living in the home as your Primary residence for three years without selling it. (more…)
Birds and the Bees (Raising them, that is!)
Salt Lake City has made changes to city ordinances to relax restrictions and allow residential chicken coops and beekeeping.
Residents who qualify are now permitted to raise chickens for the purpose of eggs and bees for the purpose of honey. Residential bees and chickens benefit our community in a variety of ways while providing a sustainable, healthy and fun source of food.
Over the past 50 years, domesticated bee populations have decreased by 50%. These animals are critical in our food production for the pollination services they provide. Pollination by bees alone is responsible for 15-30% of the food eaten in the United States. Concerns about “killer” bees led to a ban on beekeeping in Salt Lake City in the 1980s; however, domestic strains of honeybees have been selectively bred for their gentleness and can be safely kept in populated areas with proper maintenance.
Backyard chickens can improve the health of your yard and your family. The most obvious benefit of keeping chickens is the production of eggs. Eggs from well-maintained backyard chickens are not only cheaper and more environmentally friendly, but they are actually healthier and taste better too! Compared to factory-farmed eggs, backyard eggs contain significantly more Vitamins A and E, beta-carotene and omega-3 fatty acids.
Chickens provide more than healthy food. They act as a natural pest control by eating insects and their droppings are rich in nitrogen, making it an excellent addition to your compost bin.
Finally, raising chickens and bees at home can help reconnect the divide that has been created between the American diet and food production. Playing a larger role in the production of the food on your table will help foster a greater understanding of and appreciation for the food you eat.
Learn more about the chicken ordinance.
Learn more about the bee-keeping ordinance.
Source: Salt Lake City Council District Seven
Home Sales To Rise, Prices Still Falling
Single-family home sales in 2010 could rise as much as 10 percent in Salt Lake County compared to 2009, according to a study released today by the Salt Lake Board of REALTORS.
The study, by economist James Wood, noted that 2008 was likely the bottom of the housing recession. Sales of single-family homes increased 3 percent in 2009 compared to 2008. In 2010, single-family sales could reach 10,000, up from 9,100 sales in 2009.
Home prices in 2010 will continue to fall another 3 to 5 percent, Wood said. Single-family home prices have already fallen 11 percent from their peak.
