Every Earth Day we are reminded to keep focus on helping our planet maintain its sustainability and recover from past mistakes. Keeping that mindset year-round, in your home, is easier than you think. Here are 5 easy steps to greening up your home. If you do even just one on this list, we’ll give you a hug and a shout-out!
Compost
If you have the luxury of having a yard that will provide a critter-free composting setup, you are one of the lucky ones. But city folk don’t despair, you can partake in the fun too by subscribing to a composting service! At PHG we love Bennet Compost! Scrape your table and vegetable scraps into your 5-gallon bucket that has a nice tight lid. Once a week the magic fairies come, empty it out for you and you start all over again! Hot tip: Split it with a neighbor because you will soon learn 5 gallons of compost scraps is a whole lot of scraps!
Rain Check Program
If you haven’t heard of the Rain Check Program then hold onto your (rain)hats! This incredible program is a partnership of PHS and PWD. When the skies open up and it rains in the city of Philadelphia, that runoff overwhelms our old school sewer system. The rainwater is meant to go one way, and sewage another, but with heavy rains, the two mix and make their way into our surrounding rivers. The rain check program empowers residents to manage stormwater differently and helps prevent overflow.
At the top of the list is the Rain Barrel Program. 50-gallon barrels are connected to your home’s downspout and collect stormwater. Hook up your hose and water your house plants, garden, and heck even wash your car! The best part is that rain barrels are a free option to manage stormwater. You can also choose to have a self-sustainable metal planter box installed. The downspout is connected to the planter so it is self-watering, aka low maintenance! It costs $100 bucks and perennials that like moist soil are included. If you have a yard that allows, a rain garden may be for you. Rain Check will contribute $16 per square foot towards your rain garden up to a maximum of $1,500. At an average price of $17-$25 per square foot, this contribution often covers a very large percentage of the project.
There is one more option on the list and that is permeable pavers. Rain Check will contribute $15 per square foot for permeable pavers, up to a maximum of $1,500. You are responsible for removing concrete/asphalt and installing permeable pavers (DIY or via contractors) this normally runs about $30 to $50 per square foot. This program does require you to have a consultation beforehand ($25) and there are some qualifications to be approved for the Rain Check contribution.
Note that for all of the Rain Check programs you have to attend a free seminar, live in the city of Philadelphia and it is a first come first serve due to limited funding.
Solar Panels
Nationwide there are clean energy goals, and Pennsylvania has been a leader in this effort for years. In March 2021 Gov Tom Wolf announced the largest solar commitment by any government in the U.S.announced to date! We love we are seeing more and more solar panels popping up on residential Philly roofs too. As renewable and clean energy that can provide the juice for your entire home, you can even sell back any extra energy or roll it over for the next month if you are a PECO customer. If you have more than one meter in a 2-mile radius you can direct the energy to an additional property, a very cool feature for investment properties that are close to each other!
If you want to understand more, including the 26% Federal tax credit you get for installing solar panels in your home, Philadelphia Energy Authority has many resources and people that will fill you in on the details. You can even check out some of their recorded webinars that help explain some of the complexities.
Plant a Tree
Philly was a city designed to offer green space, let’s keep it going! With our city growing, side lots and other green oases are disappearing. Trees provide homes to wildlife, absorb carbon dioxide and make our streets and yards look stylish. If you live in the city of Philadelphia get in touch with Tree Philly. They offer free yard and street trees. They’ll help you determine what is best for you, select from large shade trees, fruit trees, and even flowering trees!
PGW & PECO Audit and Credits
Become besties with PGW and PECO. Outfit your home with energy star appliances and receive rebates for being so green-loving. If you are looking to upgrade big-ticket items like your boiler, check out the requirements from PGW needed to meet the $900 rebate. Same goes for your furnace, combi boiler, or tankless water heater.
Need to get rid of your old fridge that is still working and make room for a new energy star one? PECO has a program that will pick it up for you and give you a $75 credit! PECO also has a long list of rebates from dehumidifiers to air conditioners. The larger rebates are provided when you switch over an electric appliance to gas.
if you’re lucky enough to have a pool in the back, install a variable speed pool pump. You’ll be looking at a $200 rebate. The bonus, the new pump is so efficient it can save you up to $450 a year!
We’re proud to live in a city that has programs and options to make the skies just a bit brighter. None of us are going to solve environmental issues alone, but if we all band together and do our part, it is hard to believe we won’t be making a difference! Happy home greening!
Saving money for a downpayment and closing costs is the # 1 reason people are holding off on purchasing a home. PHG agent Rachel Shaw came up with a trusty list of some of her favorite homebuyer assistance grants and loan programs. With a little help, your dream of owning a home may not be as far off as you thought!