Mortgage lenders try to look at the big picture, considering things like taxes and insurance when deciding how much they can loan out to homeowners and buyers. However, there's a major ongoing expense that appraisers currently don't take into account – monthly utility bills. You don't need to be an electrician to understand that the money you pay for power each month makes an impact on your budget and even affects the value of your home. A bill currently in front of Congress – the SAVE Act – would acknowledge that reality and let federal mortgage lenders make energy efficiency part of their formula.

Increasing the Value of Your Home

Essentially, the SAVE Act would make it easier to get financing for efficiency upgrades, even folding funding for it into traditional mortgages.

“This bill would require federal mortgage agencies to recognize the energy efficiency upgrades in a home during the mortgage underwriting process, thereby increasing the value of the home,” President of the Alliance to Save Energy Kateri Callahan said in a statement. 

The SAVE Act claims it would bring a number of benefits in addition to loosening the drawstrings on bank financing for efficiency. Among them:

A Diverse Group of Supporters

The SAVE Act was first introduced in 2013. Although Congress has yet to vote on the measure, it has lined up a diverse group of supporters who aren't typically on the same side of major issues, from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers to the Alliance to Save Energy, the National Resources Defense Council, the U.S. Green Building Council and others.

In the meantime, there are a number of steps you can take around your home today to cut down on your utility bills. If you need any help installing efficient appliances or upgrading your home electric system, contact an expert electrician today.

When you own a home, it’s easy for household expenses to spiral out of control. Every year, the average homeowner is in the unenviable position of spending thousands of dollars on owning and maintaining a home- and that’s just when everything is going well! If an emergency hits, many homeowners have to make sacrifices they can ill afford just to keep the home up and running. The best strategy to avoid disaster is to work on cutting down the everyday household expenses associated with owning a home.

So where does the money really go? On average, American homeowners spend about 34 percent of their income on home expenses. Paying for the house itself, of course, is the largest chunk of that expenditure, but does it surprise you to know that utilities make up the next largest amount? Most Americans spend about seven percent of their income on utilities; that’s more than what they spend on entertainment, clothing for the family and even health care! Obviously, that’s an area where it makes sense to find ways to scale back. If you live in Texas, it’s even more important than it is for people in other states as Texas electricity rates are 30 percent higher than rates elsewhere.

To save money on electricity, you need to understand it. Electric companies measure energy usage in kWh, which is a measurement of the hours you spend using 1000 watts. By lowering your kWh, you will, of course, lower your electricity cost, but where do all those kilowatt-hours go? Appliances can be huge energy hogs but so can game systems, televisions and computers. Older homes are often ill-equipped to handle the energy demands of a modern lifestyle, and this can be not only costly but dangerous, as faulty electrical systems can lead to house fires. Modernizing your home can save on more than just household expenses- it might also save your life.

Fortunately, there are some easy ways to save on energy (and its associated costs). If your home is more than 20 years old, get your electrical system checked out by a professional to determine if you need any upgrades. Buy ENERGY STAR compliant appliances whenever possible, and turn off anything you’re not using, from lights and appliances to your Xbox 360.

Are you ready to lower your household expenses? It helps to find a company such as ElectricMan, committed to providing low-cost electrical services without sacrificing high-quality service. A family owned business, we offer quality electrical services, and we only employ professional, licensed, certified electricians. And we’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether it’s a general electrical repair or an electrical emergency, ElectricMan has you covered! Visit the ElectricMan website to learn more, or connect with our online community on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google Plus.

How familiar are you with the signs of a power surge? Everyone’s familiar with the cinematic power surge after a lightning strike or blow transistor, with the lights dimming and potentially going out and leaving you in darkness. The real threat, however, is the little power surges that happen every day that you may not even notice. These are the issues that over time can cost you thousands, and why you need whole home surge protection. Don’t believe us? Here are 3 reasons why you need whole home surge protectors in Fairfax, VA.

For those of you with little ones running around the house, you know how difficult it can be to try to keep an eye on them at all times. Sometimes they can put themselves in the most peculiar situations that you just can’t control. To keep them safe you need to implement security measures, this is especially true when it comes to electricity. Here are some steps you can take to child proof your home from electrical hazards.

This is one of the number one ways to keep your child safe in the home. Their little fingers can fit just about anywhere and electrical outlets always seem to be the most enticing place to put them! Electrical covers fit over top of the outlet so nothing can be put into them. Place electrical covers around your home in all the electrical outlets that are low to the ground and places where children can reach. There are number of different covers you can put on electrical outlets. Make sure you purchase electrical covers that are tamper-resistant so you don’t have to worry about your child removing the cover.

When giving your child a bath it can definitely get messy. When the splashing starts water begins to fly and if it hits an electronic this can be dangerous. As we know, water and electricity do not go well together. Even appliances and devices that are turned off or unplugged can still cause electrical shocks if water contact is made. When you are about to bathe your child, make sure you clear the bathroom of any electronics that are near by. This goes for the sink to. If you bathe your child in the sink you can sometimes forget about the hairdryer or shaver that was left near by. Make sure you clear the countertop before you start running the water.

All our homes are full of electronics which each require their own cord. Especially behind the television and entertainment area there can be many extensions cords and power bars. Make sure that you keep these out of your child’s reach. If they start to pull on the cords and get access to the outlets and cables there are a number of dangers. Put barriers around these areas or tie up the cables out of your child’s reach.

These are just a few ways that you can protect your child from electricity in the home. Spend some time today to review your home and the potential hazards. Electrical hazards can be a hidden danger, if you need help protecting your children, have an expert electrician review your home. We can help to identify dangers and protect against them.

Within the great state of Minnesota, professionals are required to have electrical licensed in order to install electrical wiring. Professionals are given these licenses after they have demonstrated that they understand the National Electrical Code (NEC). The Minnesota standard protects both you and the electrical professional. With knowledge of wiring, you get an electrical system that works and does not threaten your family’s safety. On the other hand, the electrician can safely install electrical wiring without jeopardizing his or her life.

Another important aspect you should consider is whether your licensed electrician has a positive attitude. Although having a positive attitude may seem irrelevant, it is not. A positive attitude will help your licensed electrician come to you whenever there is a problem. It will also make him or her feel comfortable addressing questions or concerns you have about your electrical system. When you hire a licensed electrician with a good positive attitude, you can rest assured knowing that his or her wiring is sound.

One of the complaints many homeowners make about searching for an electrician is the process of comparing quotes. In many cases, professional electricians offer quotes that are exactly clear, which may prevent homeowners from making a great comparison. To avoid this problem, homeowners must get quotes that detail the specifics of the work. Without doing so, you could get a quote that is higher, yet offers more, that you reject. Once you have all the quotes you need, make sure the electrician you choose is competitively priced.