Did you know that American homeowners spend more on energy than on real estate taxes? The SAVE Act (S. 1106) is a bipartisan bill that accounts for energy efficiency in Federally-backed mortgage underwriting. The proposed legislation is supported by the Chamber of Commerce and the Appraisal Institute, giving solid credence to the growing evidence of the value – and value-creation – of energy efficiency improvement. Benefits include:

• No cost to taxpayers
• Job Creation
• Better mortgage underwriting
• Reduced utility bills
• Affordable financing

The SAVE Act directs HUD to issue guidelines for borrowers who submit a qualified home energy report. Home builders and homeowners will have the option to recover the cost of efficiency investments. If you’ve been thinking about getting an energy audit and making your home efficient, there’s never been a better time to get ahead of the curve.

Find out more: www.imt.org/SAVE-Act

Brought to you by Monica Rokicki and the Better Building Works team.

When: Friday, May 3, 2013, 5:30pm (Harlem Shake beginning at 6:00pm)

Where: 310 2nd Street (corner of 2nd and Kirk), Roanoke, Virginia 24011 (across from Blue 5)

Better Building Works, LLC, Energy and Design Consultants, is celebrating their company’s expansion to new digs at Kirk and 2nd Street. Formerly housed at the Entrepreneur Center two blocks away, their new location offers more space for their growing staff within eyesight of Roanoke City Planning Department (and Blue 5!). Their office has room to accommodate up to four new staff members, for a total of eleven in just two years of being in business.

Co-owners Monica Rokicki and Barry Martin credit their growth to the support and advice of Tom Tanner and the Small Business Development Center’s team of experts.

As a shared value company, Better Building Works puts their relationships with Roanoke-based businesses front and center. To launch the new space, they will be creating their own version of the Harlem Shake with downtown entrepreneurs to celebrate business in downtown Roanoke.

The Harlem Shake will be videographed and will air on YouTube, like many recent Shakes at the Market Building and Virginia Tech. ___________________________________________________________________________________ Better Building Works has a local depth and breadth of architecture and construction knowledge they draw upon to help families and CEOs make smart, energy efficient investments. They also conduct energy audits using blower door technology, infrared thermography and a range of energy modeling tools.

Brought to you by Monica Rokicki and Barry Martin

This month an existing Appalachian Power Company (APCO) rate surcharge is set to expire, decreasing your energy bill by approximately 2.5%. That is great news, but there is bad news on the horizon . . . . The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) has approved a new 4% rate change what will become effective early next year which equates to an increase of 1.5% over today’s electric bill rates.

So what was that thing about having the power in my hands, you ask? Well, let us share the facts with you. When establishing greater energy efficiency objectives within our homes and workplaces we counterbalance this and future rate increases by lowering our overall energy usage and therefore coal and natural gas usage (in 2015 APCO estimates that 69% of fuel used in energy production will be coal and 21% will be natural gas). Less kilowatt hours used means more money in your hands. Added benefits of energy efficiency often include healthier buildings, more comfortable living and working spaces and more valuable real estate.

We hope you now realize that you do have the power in your hands.

Brought to you by Monica Rokicki

Through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Renewable Energy System Grant and Loan Guarantee, eligible applicants receive financial assistance to purchase, install and construct renewable energy systems, make energy efficiency improvements to non-residential buildings and facilities and participate in energy audits.

With participation from a company like Better Building Works, qualified rural property owners in the state of Virginia can comply with the necessary guidelines to receive financial assistance through the REAP program.

Furthermore, the Energy Department and USDA have partnered together to support energy efficiency in rural communities after discovering America’s rural households spend approximately $400 more per year in energy bills, despite the fact that their urban counterparts use three times the energy of a rural home. This partnership offers programs such as Weatherization Assistance Program in order to save money, improve energy security, create jobs and protect our air and water.

Brought to you by: Nicole Roberts