Anna DeSimone's Blog, page 2
November 20, 2022
The Sustainable House, Podcast
Eugene Bible talks to Anna DeSimone on his podcast, Solve for Nature, at Verdant Growth. Listen to the Sustainable House episode at www.verdantgrowth/blog
https://verdantgrowth.blog/archives/1803
https://verdantgrowth.blog/archives/1803
October 25, 2022
Two Giveaways! Great for holiday gifts!
Mark your calendar for two giveaways in November!
5 signed paperback copies of each book will be shipped to winners promptly on December 1st. Register for both! Welcome to the Agrihood, and Live in a House that Pays You Back.
5 signed paperback copies of each book will be shipped to winners promptly on December 1st. Register for both! Welcome to the Agrihood, and Live in a House that Pays You Back.
April 4, 2022
Voice America, Go Green Radio
Listen to Anna talk about net zero and energy efficient homes on Go Green Radio hosted by Jill Buck.
Visit Go Green Radio on Voice America at
https://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/...
Visit Go Green Radio on Voice America at
https://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/...
March 20, 2022
Is Your Home Healthy?
Research completed by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University found that consumers are increasingly worried about the link between health and everyday environmental exposures. In its study, Healthy Home Remodeling: Consumer Trends and Contractor Preparedness, the Joint Center found that indoor air quality ranked as the leading source of concern.
Scientific advancements in ventilation systems are now able to capture far greater levels of bacteria, allergens, and airborne pollutants. Members of your household can benefit from a continuous supply of fresh, filtered air just by making a few changes to your heating, cooling, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.
There are a number of HVAC upgrades designed to remove stale air, and provide a continuous supply of fresh, filtered outdoor air. Whole-house air-filtering systems are very powerful and can serve as a year-round defense from a broad range of biological pollutants such as dust, dander, pollen, bacteria, mold, mildew, and viruses. If a whole-house system is not feasible, there are many portable air cleaning appliances available.
Smart home technology is a good way to monitor levels of moisture, humidity, and indoor or outdoor air quality. In addition to fire and smoke, detection systems are now available with powerful sensors that detect mold, floods, radon, carbon dioxide, and other environmental toxins.
It's all explained in my book, Live in a Home That Pays You Back
Scientific advancements in ventilation systems are now able to capture far greater levels of bacteria, allergens, and airborne pollutants. Members of your household can benefit from a continuous supply of fresh, filtered air just by making a few changes to your heating, cooling, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.
There are a number of HVAC upgrades designed to remove stale air, and provide a continuous supply of fresh, filtered outdoor air. Whole-house air-filtering systems are very powerful and can serve as a year-round defense from a broad range of biological pollutants such as dust, dander, pollen, bacteria, mold, mildew, and viruses. If a whole-house system is not feasible, there are many portable air cleaning appliances available.
Smart home technology is a good way to monitor levels of moisture, humidity, and indoor or outdoor air quality. In addition to fire and smoke, detection systems are now available with powerful sensors that detect mold, floods, radon, carbon dioxide, and other environmental toxins.
It's all explained in my book, Live in a Home That Pays You Back
March 1, 2022
Welcome to the Agrihood Giveaway Begins March 1st 2022
Get ready for your spring planting! Five signed paperback copies of Welcome to the Agrihood will be given away to readers in the U.S. and Canada.
Welcome to the Agrihood: Living, Shopping, and Gardening for a Farm-to-Table Lifestyle
Welcome to the Agrihood: Living, Shopping, and Gardening for a Farm-to-Table Lifestyle
February 13, 2022
Roll the cost of an energy-efficiency retrofit into your mortgage
You can finance energy improvements with your mortgage with programs from Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, VA, and Rural Housing. Also, most state-chartered housing finance agencies offer “green mortgage” programs and incentives for refinancing or new purchases.
Mortgage qualifying rules for energy-efficient homes have been expanded by mortgage agencies due to the potential savings in utility costs, and because they are less expensive to own. Certain programs will let you borrow up to 15% over the cost of your home, and these include purchases with 3% percent down payments.
Let’s say you wish to buy a home for $300,000, and finance $30,000 in energy improvements. If the lender’s appraiser can validate an increase in value that covers the retrofit, your real estate transaction will be structured for $330,000. The seller still receives $300,000, and your lender will disburse the $30,000 in costs directly to the contractor.
With a 5% down payment, this scenario would only require an extra $1,000 in cash towards the down payment, and your monthly payment for principal and interest would increase about $90, based on a 30-year mortgage at 4.00% interest.
Its all explained in Live in a Home that Pays You Back.
Mortgage qualifying rules for energy-efficient homes have been expanded by mortgage agencies due to the potential savings in utility costs, and because they are less expensive to own. Certain programs will let you borrow up to 15% over the cost of your home, and these include purchases with 3% percent down payments.
Let’s say you wish to buy a home for $300,000, and finance $30,000 in energy improvements. If the lender’s appraiser can validate an increase in value that covers the retrofit, your real estate transaction will be structured for $330,000. The seller still receives $300,000, and your lender will disburse the $30,000 in costs directly to the contractor.
With a 5% down payment, this scenario would only require an extra $1,000 in cash towards the down payment, and your monthly payment for principal and interest would increase about $90, based on a 30-year mortgage at 4.00% interest.
Its all explained in Live in a Home that Pays You Back.
November 13, 2021
DIY Projects to Save Energy: Adding Insulation
An important step in reducing energy in your home includes adding more insulation. As long as you follow the product manufacturer’s “safe handling instructions,” DIY (do-it-yourself) insulation projects can often fit within your budget and completed in a weekend.
Many different types of insulation are considered sustainable, however, there are some eco-friendly products worth mentioning. “Denim cotton” is blue-colored insulation made from recycled blue jeans and denim cotton. Unlike fiberglass, handling the insulation does not irritate skin.
“Cellulose” insulation products are made from 85% recycled content, primarily newsprint. Other materials used in cellulose insulation include cardboard, cotton, straw, and sawdust. “Sheep’s wool” is considered one of the most natural and renewable sources of insulation.
Fiberglass remains the number one insulation used in the U.S. and is available in a wide number of forms—long rolls, blankets (or batts), concrete blocks, rigid foam, and boards. Some insulation products are delivered through spraying devices, such as “loose-fill” and “foam.”
When you shop for insulation, you’ll notice a reference to the product’s “R-value,” which refers to the “resistance to heat flow.” The higher the R-value, the more resistance is being provided by the insulation. R-value requirements vary based on geographical area and the part of the home that is being insulated.
It’s all explained in Live in a Home that Pays You Back.
Many different types of insulation are considered sustainable, however, there are some eco-friendly products worth mentioning. “Denim cotton” is blue-colored insulation made from recycled blue jeans and denim cotton. Unlike fiberglass, handling the insulation does not irritate skin.
“Cellulose” insulation products are made from 85% recycled content, primarily newsprint. Other materials used in cellulose insulation include cardboard, cotton, straw, and sawdust. “Sheep’s wool” is considered one of the most natural and renewable sources of insulation.
Fiberglass remains the number one insulation used in the U.S. and is available in a wide number of forms—long rolls, blankets (or batts), concrete blocks, rigid foam, and boards. Some insulation products are delivered through spraying devices, such as “loose-fill” and “foam.”
When you shop for insulation, you’ll notice a reference to the product’s “R-value,” which refers to the “resistance to heat flow.” The higher the R-value, the more resistance is being provided by the insulation. R-value requirements vary based on geographical area and the part of the home that is being insulated.
It’s all explained in Live in a Home that Pays You Back.
November 9, 2021
Books shipped to giveaway winners
Ten signed copies of Live in a Home that Pays You Back were shipped on November 8th to all the winners in the U.S. and Canada.
Congratulations!!
Congratulations!!
October 1, 2021
Congratulations to Giveaway Winners!
September giveaway results are in!
10 lucky people in the U.S. and Canada will soon receive their signed copies of Live in a Home that Pays You Back.
Watch for another giveaway starting October 10th!
10 lucky people in the U.S. and Canada will soon receive their signed copies of Live in a Home that Pays You Back.
Watch for another giveaway starting October 10th!
October giveaway
10 signed copies of Live in a Home that Pays You Back will be given away to winners in the U.S. and Canada.
Live in a Home That Pays You Back
Live in a Home That Pays You Back
