Lake living..Full amen. bldg..2020 Lincoln Park

Carpe Diem..Great buy in the Heart of Bucktown

Eco Tip of the Day..Energy Efficient appliances can save you$$$

Energy-Efficient Appliances

Technology Snapshot & Benefits:
Both immediate and indirect economic savings can come from energy-efficient appliances such as refrigerators, horizontal-axis washing machines, clothes dryers, dishwashers, etc. Immediate and continuing savings accrue from lower utility bills for electricity and/or water. The performance levels of these appliances meet, and generally exceed, those of industry �standard� models. As a case in point, consider household refrigeration. By the late 1970s, refrigerators reached their most inefficient performance by requiring about 1750 kiloWatt-hours per year to operate. Modern energy-efficient refrigerators provide the same or better service at 450-550 kiloWatt-hours per year, and they are much quieter in operation.

Estimated Cost Savings:
The direct economic savings achieved by efficient appliances are a function of how much the appliance will be used, the performance level of the equipment being replaced, and local costs for utilities. When you replace older equipment, it is not uncommon for electricity consumption for that appliance to decrease by 50% or more. In general, if the appliance being replaced is more than 15 years old, and it is replaced with a state-of-the-art unit, you may expect utility savings of 20%-60% compared with the energy required by the previous appliance. Horizontal-axis washing machines typically save consumers 50% in both electric and water utilities. Additional savings come from reduced quantities of detergent.

Your monthly electrical bill is for all electricity used by all electrical loads in the building, so changing a single appliance will lower the bill, but in proportion to the amount of electricity formerly used by that appliance. If refrigeration represents 15-20% of your electric bill, a new refrigerator that is twice as efficient as the unit being replaced will lower your total bill by about 7-10%.

Any increase in initial cost is usually more than made up in monthly savings. See ACEEE Consumer Guide to Home Energy Saving for more detailed information on appliances and savings.

Issues:
Availability of the most energy-efficient appliances may be an issue. Sometimes the best equipment is in demand, which can mean that discounts and sale prices are either unavailable or of lower value. Over time, as manufacturers and suppliers clear inventories of less efficient models by offering discounts, expect the price of efficient appliances to come down as well.

Regional Issues:
Primarily, regional issues involve supply, delivery, and installation.

Installation (Getting It Done):
Be sure to price shop and to get two or three (or more) prices. Inquire about installation and removal of your old unit. For any refrigeration unit, be sure that the refrigerant will be removed and recycled responsibly. Refrigerants are very potent greenhouse gases and must be captured and contained. Shopping for price and availability will give you perspective on the true costs of equipment and installation in your area.

The Current State of the Real Estate Market

This recording is from WGN’s “The Money Show” with host Bill Moller. Ron Goldstein, Rubloff, is a participant and gives his views on the current state of the real estate market. This show focuses on technology, identity theft, mortgage rates, and where to put your money.

Click here to listen. WGN The Money Show
http://rublogg.com/?p=423

Carpe Diem..Great time to BUY! $15K Tax Relief..

The Isakson-Lieberman amendment would stimulate demand for housing by greatly enhancing the first-time home buyer tax credit. Specifically, the amendment would:

• Double the maximum amount of the credit from $7500 to $15,000.
• Extend the home buyer tax credit to all home buyers, not just first-time home buyers.
• Allow taxpayers to claim the credit on their 2008 income tax return, thus providing immediate tax relief and stimulus to the economy.
• Repeal the current law requirement that the credit be repaid over 15 years.
• Extend the credit for one full year from the date of enactment (the credit in the underlying bill does not apply to any home purchases made after August 31, 2009).
• Prevent abuse by: (1) only allowing the home buyer credit for purchases of a principle residence, not houses purchased by investors purely for speculative purposes, and (2) recapturing the credit if the home is sold within 2 years of purchase.

Carpe Diem-Tweet of the Day..

"We are all inventors, each sailing out on a voyage of discovery, guided each by a private chart, of which there is no duplicate. The world is all gates, all opportunities."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

2009 Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency

Come check out..http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits#s1