simple + green

A little news around the “Go Green” movement from last week. No doubt that strides are being made in encouraging people to purchase energy saving products and think Green. But many people feel that State and Federal governments aren’t acting quickly and decisively enough. The answer? Take action at the city-level!

Frustrated by what they see as insufficient action by state and federal government, municipalities around the country are offering financial incentives to get people to go green.

What some cities are offering:
* Free hybrid-car parking
* Cash rebates for installing solar panels
* Low-interest loans for energy-saving home renovations
* Money to tear up desert lawns and replace them with drought-resistant
landscaping

Here are some examples of cities that are taking action:

* Parkland, Florida (city motto: “Environmentally Proud”): plans next year to begin dispensing cash rebates to its 25,000 residents for being more environmentally friendly. Among the rebate opportunities:
- Residents who install low-flow toilets or shower heads will get $150.
- Replacing an old air conditioner with a more energy-efficient one brings $100.
- Buying a hybrid car will bring an additional $200 cash back.

* San Francisco, California: starting next year, San Francisco will offer homeowners rebates of up to $5,000 for installing solar panels if they use a local contractor. Combined with state and federal incentives, that could cut in half the $21,000 cost for an average household.

The city will also cover up to 90 percent of the costs of making apartment buildings more energy-efficient, and will pay residents $150 to replace old appliances.

* Berkeley, California: financing the cost of solar panels for homeowners who agree to pay the money back through a 20-year property tax assessment.

* Baltimore, Maryland offers at least $2,000 toward closing costs for people who buy new homes close to where they work. It is called the “Live Near Your Work” program.

* Albuquerque, N.M., residents get fast-track building permits and other perks if they agree to make their homes more energy-efficient.

* In Arizona, many cities pay residents to replace grass with artificial turf or plants that use less water. Scottsdale, outside Phoenix, will pay up to $1,500.

For those of living in areas like this, now is the time to consider making one of these changes.

And what if you live in an area that offers no such programs? Get your city involved. Forward this blog post to your local government leaders. Copy it into an email and email them. Call them with the above examples. Or give this web address so they can read for themselves.

What am I going to do? This week, I will contact my city government to ask what they can do. And I will have an update in reply, based on this action.

Bringing attention, and initiating an idea like this could bring about the change you wish.

What are we waiting for?

Article here:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071227/ap_on_re_us/green_rebates