Homeowners in Missouri have new incentives to go green
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — with the cold months upon us, you may be looking for ways to make your home more energy efficient. A new program gives homeowners a cash rebate of up to 70 percent when you make improvements recommended by an energy audit. and, just because your home isn’t an old home, you shouldn’t assume you don’t qualify.During an audit of a home built in 1997, certified auditor Jim Baker found areas that could be improved.
“This house has 268 square inches of crackage. That’s more than I hoped for. It means we have the opportunity to make improvements to this house,” said Baker.Baker will make suggestions for fixes for which the homeowner can get a rebate. It’s all part of the Energize Missouri Homes program. Missouri received nearly $8 million in stimulus funds to give homeowners incentives to make their homes more energy efficient.
“That’s what’s nice about the program. It covers people who have a limited desire to change their house to people who want to make major changes,” said Baker.Baker says finding areas to improve in homes in t he Ozarks is easy.
“Anything prior to 1985, I would say 25 percent is easy. you get back in the 1970s and it’s no problem.”Baker says going greener has never been easier or more lucrative.
“You have an audit made, you have a plan to fix the house, you pay the bills, send in invoices and they send money back in six to eight weeks,” said Baker.The program also pays up to $500 toward the energy audit itself. and, if you really want to go green, you can get up to $10,000 toward a new geothermal ground source heat pump.
