Jamie Carroll ~ S&B Real Estate Team ~ Vancouver, WA ~ Clark County

Clark Public Utilities is participating in a pilot program for homeowners whose homes are heated with cable ceiling heat, baseboard heaters, or wall heaters. People using these types of outdated heating systems are most likely using more energy than is needed to heat their homes. CPU is helping qualified customers upgrade to a ductless heating/ cooling system by offering a $1500 rebate and 5.25% financing.

These ductless heat pumps use a fraction of the electricity and provide more consistent comfort than outdated systems. The systems even come standard with air-conditioning! Upgrading to a more efficient unit will also help keep your energy bills down. The systems typically cost between $4000-$6000 so the $1500 rebate is a considerable savings!

Homeowners interested in taking advantage of this program should call Energy Services at 360-992-3355 to learn about eligibility and finance options. They will provide a list of CPU approved contractors who can install the ductless heat pump systems.

Thinking of other ways to upgrade your home? We work closely with service providors of all kinds! Just call the JMC Group at 360-609-6775 or visit the "Contact Us" page of our website at www.MyRealtorIsJamie.com for a referral. We are here to help!

If you've never ventured to downtown Vancouver for the First Friday Artwalk, now's a great time to see what it's all about! Keller Williams Realty will be hosting the opening reception and from there you can take a self guided tour (aka: an art walk) to downtown's wonderful art galleries. Beverages and goodies are served at most galleries and you may even enjoy a musician or two! We're supposed to be getting a bit of liquid sunshine on Friday so bring an umbrella along. Here are the all important details:

What: First Friday Artwalk

When: Friday, February 6, 2009; 5p - 7p (galleries are open until 8 or 9p)

Where: Keller Williams Realty, 915 Broadway #100, Vancouver, WA 98660 (corner of Evergreen and Broadway in the Pacific Tower building)

Who: The reception and galleries are open to the public! Galleries involved are: Sixth Street Gallery, Art on the Boulevard, Aurora, North Bank, Angst, and more...

Why: Because it's tons of fun, it supports your local artists and small businesses, good exercize, make new friends or bump into old ones, and it's FREE!

You can find lots of community information on our website at www.MyRealtorIsJamie.com. Or give us a call at 360-609-6775. We are here to help!

Whether the bills are up or not, it's always a good idea to do what we can to reduce our energy comsumption. So far I've passed on some easy, inexpensive tips that can be done right now - or at least within a week. Today, I'm going to dive in a little deeper and cover some things that a little more up-front expense and may require hiring a professional.

What to do this month:

• Inspect the insulation in your attic or crawlspace. An older home may not have any at all! Consider installing some, or beefing it up if it's inadequate. Some utility companies offer loans for weatherization measures.
• Insulate hot water pipes and heating ducts. Get down and dirty in your crawlspace - you'll be surprised at how many pipes are uninsulated. An uninsulated water pipe is not only less efficient but also runs the risk of freezing in the winter.
• Find and seal the air leaks in your house. All houses "breathe" a little but some whistle an howl on windy days! Check windows and doors of course, but also holes for plumbing and electrical.
• Install storm windows over old-fashoined pane windows. Don't want that expense? There are kits with plastic sheeting and adhesive that will do the job for much less!
• I mentioned this last week but I think it's important so... schedule an energy audit with your local utility company (many will do it for free) or a third party. This gives you a clear picture of where energy is being wasted in your home and what you can do about it.

I know great people who do repair, maintenance and handyman work. Feel free to call if you'd like a referral to someone skilled and trustworthy who can help you accomplish these tasks! We can be reached at 360-609-6775 or on the "Contact Us" page of our website www.MyRealtorIsJamie.com. We are here to help!

In part one of this series I shared a few things that you can do right now - today - to lower your energy consumption. Today we'll look at a few things that will take a smidge more effort, but can easily be done within the week.

To do this week:

• Head down to your local hardware store and pick up a new furnace filter, compact fluorescent bulbs, a low-flow shower head, caulk, weather-stripping, etc.
• Caulk or weather-strip as needed on all doors and windows. Many utility companies offer a free "energy audit" which will show you where you're letting the cold air in and warm air out.
• Schedule to have your heating system serviced. It's recommended that you do this annually but most people never quite get around to it!

These are all simple, quick ideas that will really help conserve energy and save you money! If you have questions about buying or selling real estate, call the JMC Group at 360-609-6775. Or visit the "Contact Us" page of our website at www.MyRealtorIsJamie.com. We are here to help!

I don't know about you, but my bills are inching skyward. How very kind of my local utility company to raise rates in the winter! Gotta love that! But, regardless of rates, conserving energy makes sense. This four part series will show you what you can do to lower your consumption today, this week, this month, and this year.

What you can do today:

• Turn down the thermostat on your water heater to between 120 and 130 degrees. You'll save energy and avoid scalding your skin.
• Most modern appliances have "energy-saver" settings which use less water, electricity, and/ or gas. Look for, and use, this setting on your refrigerator, dishwasher, washer and dryer.
• Replace some or all of your incandescent lightbulbs with compact fluorescent lights. They're a bit more expensive at first but they last for years and use 75% less energy than incandescents, saving you money in the long run. If you can only afford a few at a time, start in the rooms where you use the lights the most - usually the kitchen, family rooms, and kids' bedrooms.
• Clean or replace furnace filters regularly. Even "disposable" filters can be vacuumed and reused several times before throwing them out. This can also help with minor indoor-air allergies!

Next time we'll look at what you can do this week to conserve energy and money on your utility bills. If you're thinking of buying or selling a home, call the JMC Group at 360-609-6775. Or visit the "Contact Us" page of our website at www.MyRealtorIsJamie.com. We are here to help!