Cut your carbon footprint – and your tax bill

As a homeowner, you can save money, make your home more energy efficient, and even add value to your property by taking advantage of financial assistance programs offered by state and federal agencies:

• Residential Energy Efficiency Loan (REEL)

• California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE)

• Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA)

• Medical Baseline Allowance

• Energy Savings Assistance (ESA)

• Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM)

• Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit

• Equipment Tax Credits for Primary Residences

Chic vs. Geek: Have you read your PG&E bill lately?

You might be surprised to learn how much you’re spending on energy compared to similar homes, but it only takes a little to save a lot.

CHIC (PEARL)

Earth Day always seems to sneak up on us, and this year, it made me think about how much more energy Kevin and I use compared to other homeowners — even after taking steps to reduce our consumption. Over the 12 months of working from home during the pandemic, we managed to cut our monthly PG&E bill in half, from over $400 to around $200. But we are still using 4% more energy use than a similar sized home!

GEEK (KEVIN)

The good news is that from our conscious efforts over the past few months, we’re saving money — and the environment. We avoid doing laundry during peak demand hours (4-9pm). We remember to turn off the lights in a room when it’s not in use. And we crack windows to cool down the house as opposed to blasting the air conditioner. Need more ideas for energy efficiency? Have a look at these tips from PG&E.

Geek's Number Talk: Par for the Course

Now more than ever, working from home, health and fitness, and spending time with friends and family are important factors in many people’s lives. So having a golf course near your home could be a huge personal asset. But what about the impact on your bank account?

As far back as the 1990s, research has suggested that the presence of a golf course increased nearby home values by 7.6%. More recent studies indicate that the value decreases significantly as the distance between the home and the golf course increases.

So it’s safe to assume that the presence of a golf course in a residential community is a net benefit to property value in addition to adding to the luxury of a home or neighborhood. However, this nice amenity also comes with a cost for upkeep!