Posts Tagged ‘Housing’

Seniors Going Green, Not Gray, with Solar Power!

Published by fnever on June 10th, 2012 - in Knowledge Base

Article by AM McElroy

Seniors Going Green, Not Gray, with Solar Power! – Family – Seniors

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One of the largest markets for solar power is senior living communities, both those run by private companies and those managed by state or municipal agencies. For the most part, these are installations to supplement on-grid power and reduce energy and operating costs.

For communities managed by corporations or government agencies, it’s logical: the cost of running senior living communities, whether post-55 complexes or those providing assisted living or advanced care services, have small profit margins.

Along with lowering operating costs, solar energy programs instituted at senior communities often take advantage of incentives offered by federal and state agencies.

Lessons from Decades Past

Many people who buy and use and solar lighting are part over 55. To some, it may seem surprising that the “older crowd” would be so open to new technologies, even when many renewable subsidies are expiring with an unknown future given the recent debt ceiling and related financial issues in Washington, DC.

The fact is that unlike many younger members of the Green Community, these folks lived through the 1970s energy crisis and know that reliance on traditional fossil fuels will continually be more expensive and that the United States must become to be less reliant on fuel from the Middle East. This certainly does not mean that concerns are not a factor.

One resident of a 12-acre, 318 unit campus in Portland, OR, that “went green” wrote to the facilities’ management to commend them “for their interest is protecting the environment.” The CherryWood Village Retirement Community in Portland installed a 92.4 kilowatt solar system that is estimated to reduce the facility’s main building electric bills by an estimated 25% annually. CherryWood Village is both a retirement and assisted living community.

Since Oregon is not a region known for its sunshine, it shows how far solar technology has come in recent years. Other regions that have or are now “Going Green” with solar include a 36-unit apartment building for moderate and low income senior citizens in Medford, NJ. In fact, the project is presently one of four national finalists for the 2011 award for “best New Senior Housing ,” granted by Affordable Housing , a national trade magazine/website serving the affordable housing development market.

The Medford, NJ, senior residence was completed in September 2010 and with full occupancy by December 2010. Along with one and two bedroom units, building amenities include a community room, a laundry room, a lounge, a computer room and a wellness room. The new construction included a major solar roof panel installation. Along with communities in Northern and Southern California, the other finalist is located in Pennsylvania.

Even so, the California and the Sunbelt is where solar power took hold years ago and these regions have the most senior residences with hybrid solar systems.

In 2010, the City of Indian Wells, CA upgraded its Indian Wells Villa senior citizen apartment complex. The 90-duplex development with a clubhouse and pool spreads across 10 acres of property was originally built in 1992. In 2010, the owners did an energy retrofit that included new roofing, high efficiency air conditioners, water heaters, and toilets. The solar installation comprised of 1,092 solar panels, 39 inverters, and a web-based, 24/7 state of the art monitoring system.

The system, combined with the other energy-savings measures, is expected to reduce the low-income tenants’ annual electric bill by 80-90%. The .2 million project was funded by the City of Indian Wells Redevelopment Agency, coupled with .8 million from Southern California Edison through Multi-Family Affordable Solar Housing (MASH) incentives and grants. It was designed and installed by Solar Distributors, Inc. of Palm Desert, CA.

As a retailer of solar lighting, one of the author’s first large sale involved a residential community in Florida that was an “over 55″ condominium complex. When they wanted to replace 72 lamp posts, they told me they looked at solar for two reasons: reducing operating costs and environmental impacts; incentives were not available and were therefore not part of the decision making process.

Advocacy Plays a Role

As energy costs rise and both managers and residents of senior complexes become more conscious of energy costs, more solar development seems inevitable. And, website and publications for these communities are a key part of the effort.

For example, USSeniorCitizen.com, “U.S. Senior Citizen Resources for America’s Senior Citizens” continually educate their audience on the benefits of . TheAmerican Association for Retired People also actively supports through its online resources and magazine.

These and other sites and publications regularly publishes bulletins on the latest in incentive changes and other ways to save energy and articles on off-grid homes, “My Generation: Going Green,” “SolarCity Sees Bright Future for Residential Solar Systems,” and “Which US States Lead in Clean Energy.”

It’s still unclear what the future holds in terms of incentives for renewable energies, a topic deserving of its own article after the dust in Washington, DC settles and details of where spending cuts will occur.

Which means that regardless of your age, it’s a great time to make your voice heard: if renewable energy is an area you want the government to invest in, particularly rather than subsidies to traditional energy sources such as oil companies, now is the time to make your voice heard.

Seniors Are Often Active Advocates

Being an active advocate is easier than you think: phone, write or email your senators and congressional representative. True, the lobbyists spend the money, but ultimately its the voters who make the decision in the ballot box.

And one thing younger generations can learn from senior citizens is how to make their voices heard, a key reason Florida is a “battleground election state.” Senior citizens know very well how to make their interests, and the fact that they vote, known very well to politicians.

Copyright 2011, AM McElroy, SolarFlairLighting.com, SolarLightingSmart.com. All rights reserved.

About the Author

AM McElroy has over 20 years experience in corporate communications and marketing/sales within the banking, civil/environmental engineering, high-tech and natural sciences (physics) arenas.

An avid fan of solar lights and solar energy, she has an online store, http://www.solarflairlighting.com, that focuses on solar products. In addition to sales, the site hopes to educate consumer about solar lighting and other renewable energy as does her blog http://www.solarlightingsmart.com.

Use and distribution of this article is subject to our Publisher Guidelines
whereby the original author’s information and copyright must be included.

AM McElroy

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AM McElroy has over 20 years experience in corporate communications and marketing/sales within the banking, civil/environmental engineering, high-tech and natural sciences (physics) arenas.

An avid fan of solar lights and solar energy, she has an online store, http://www.solarflairlighting.com, that focuses on solar products. In addition to sales, the site hopes to educate consumer about solar lighting and other renewable energy as does her blog http://www.solarlightingsmart.com.












Use and distribution of this article is subject to our Publisher Guidelines
whereby the original author’s information and copyright must be included.

A look at Sunpower Solar Panels provided by Sunbelt Solar Energy of Sarasota, Florida

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Novogradac & Firm Names New Principals

Published by fnever on December 20th, 2011 - in More About Green


, Calif. (PRWEB) December 16, 2011

&amp Organization LLP a national CPA and firm headquartered in San Francisco with 13 offices nationwide, right now welcomes seven new principals. The firm, which specializes in reasonably priced , and is proud to announce the promotions of Gregory Clements in the firm?s Dover, Ohio , Nick Hoehn in its Austin , Keith LeBlanc in its Boston and Eric Barnett, Elaine Chang, Jeff Nishita and Thomas Stagg in its San Francisco .

?My partners and I are really pleased to announce the promotions of Gregory, Nick, Keith, Eric, Elaine, Jeff and Thomas and to see these incredible specialists continue to prosper with our firm,? said Michael J. Novogradac, CPA, managing partner in the firm?s San Francisco office. ?We are delighted to recognize their accomplishments with these nicely-earned promotions. They have demonstrated leadership and expertise and have proved their dedication to our function in reasonably priced housing, community development and renewable and the partners and I are searching forward to operating with them in their new capacities and to their contributions to the firm?s continued growth and good results.?

Gregory Clements joined Novogradac &amp Firm?s Dover office as a staff accountant in 2004 and swiftly built on the accounting knowledge he had gained while operating for a nearby CPA firm throughout his college years. Mr. Clements specializes in the new markets tax credits, renewable energy tax credits, historic tax credits and low-earnings housing tax credits and has worked closely with genuine estate developers, community development entities, syndicators and investors on structuring of new markets tax credit transactions, in addition to providing standard audit and tax services. He received a bachelor?s degree in and accounting from Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio and is licensed in Ohio as a certified public accountant.

Nick Hoehn has far more than ten years of skilled experience in cost-effective housing and provides audit, tax, and consulting services, specializing in genuine estate partnerships, investment firms and not-for-profit organizations. Prior to joining Novogradac &amp Company, Mr. Hoehn was a senior accountant with a Chicago certified public accounting firm. He received his bachelor?s degree in accountancy from Eastern Illinois University and is licensed in Illinois and Texas as a certified public accountant.

Keith LeBlanc has far more than 12 years of encounter in delivering tax, accounting and consulting services to developers, syndicators and investors of genuine estate as nicely as other tax credit investments. He focuses considerably of his attention on multi-state reporting troubles for some of the largest syndicators of low-earnings housing tax credits in the market. Prior to joining the firm he was a director of tax services for a national firm, focusing on servicing real estate customers. Mr. LeBlanc received a bachelor?s degree from Bentley College in Waltham, Mass. and is licensed in Massachusetts as a certified public accountant.

Eric Barnett offers audit services to several organizations, which includes investment firms, genuine estate firms, corporations and not-for-profit organizations. Prior to joining Novogradac &amp Organization as a staff accountant in 2000, Mr. Barnett received a bachelor?s degree in company economics with an accounting emphasis from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is licensed in California as a certified public accountant.

Elaine Chang joined Novogradac &amp Company?s San Francisco workplace as a staff accountant in 2003. Her knowledge has been in affordable housing and community development, including new markets tax credit and low-earnings housing tax credit transactions, and she has worked extensively on economic statement audits, tax return preparation, final cost certification audits and new markets tax credit allocation applications. Ms. Chang has contributed articles to various publications which includes the Novogradac Journal of Tax Credits. She received a bachelor?s degree in finance from Walsh College.

Jeff Nishita, one of the founders of the firm?s LIHTC Working Group, a membership organization that addresses technical concerns in the low income housing tax credit program, performs several services in the reasonably priced housing and renewable energy industries, such as audit and tax services, consulting, forecasting, and coaching. In addition, he is in charge of maintaining the firm?s Financial Forecast Model on CD-ROM. Mr. Nishita also works in the defeasance industry, offering services to borrowers and lenders. He speaks at a variety of cost-effective housing conferences throughout the year and is a technical editor for the firm?s different Unique Reports. Prior to joining Novogradac &amp Business LLP, Mr. Nishita worked with many start-up businesses and small corporations in a variety of executive positions. He graduated at the leading of his class from Santa Clara University, receiving an MBA with highest honors with concentrations in operations, entrepreneurship, managing technology and innovation, and finance. He also received a bachelor?s degree in economics with a concentration in accounting from the University of California at Santa Barbara. He is licensed in California as a certified public accountant.

Thomas Stagg joined the firm?s San Francisco workplace as a staff accountant in 2003 and specializes in audit and tax services for real estate partnerships. His a standard contributor to the Novogradac Journal of Tax Credits, writing on the complexities of IRS Section 42 tax credit property compliance, and has taught property compliance and tax credit application workshops at Novogradac &amp Firm cost-effective housing conferences and to private organizations. Mr. Stagg received his bachelor?s degree in accounting from Brigham Young University in 2003 and is licensed in California and Washington as a certified public accountant.

Novogradac &amp Firm LLP was founded in 1989, and has given that grown to much more than 300 employees and partners in offices in San Francisco and Long Beach, Calif. Metro Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Ga., Detroit, Mich. and Kansas City, Mo. Boston, Mass. Austin, Texas Dover, Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio New York, N.Y. and Portland, Ore. Specialty practice locations consist of tax, audit and consulting services for tax-credit assisted multifamily and affordable housing, community revitalization and rehabilitation of historic properties. Other areas of expertise consist of military base redevelopment, preparation and analysis of marketplace studies and appraisals of multifamily housing investments and renewable power tax credits.

For extra details on Novogradac &amp Company LLP?s personnel and areas of expertise, visit http://www.novoco.com or telephone Jane Bowar Zastrow at (415) 356-8034. Photographs are readily available on request.

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The Positive aspects of Getting Solar Power Properties

Published by fnever on November 29th, 2011 - in Knowledge Base

The market is still recovering, which implies that there are some fabulous offers on houses for residence buyers proper now. But even though you want to take of the excellent offers available and save money it really is worth spending a small more to buy one. Solar properties have a lot of rewards that standard properties don’t have like:

Lengthy term savings – You may well spend a small more for homes up front but more than the course of the time you own the you will save thousands of dollars in energy expenses.  Paying a small far more now in order to save for years makes a lot of monetary sense.  

Resale value – homes are consistently in demand no matter what the genuine estate market does.  Thousands of folks are discovering themselves upside down on their mortgages correct now since of the economy but if you invest in a house that won’t happen to you.

Probabilities are good that you would have no trouble finding a buyer for your solar energy residence if you decided that you wanted to sell, even in a soft housing market place.

Income back – Both the Federal government and individual states have numerous distinct rebates, tax credits, grants and other monetary incentives for men and women who acquire solar  properties.  You could end up saving thousands of dollars when you get the as well as saving money more than time by picking one instead of a traditional . Be positive to check out what the incentive programs are in your state prior to you commence shopping for a new property.

Helping the atmosphere- efficient houses are considerably greater for the environment than traditional properties.  If you are somebody that wants to consume responsibly, lessen your carbon footprint, and invest your funds on smart purchases then getting a solar energy house is the correct move for you.

 

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Adam Capital Finances Solar Panels for Inexpensive Housing in New Orleans

Published by fnever on November 11th, 2011 - in Commercial


(PRWEB) October 25, 2011

Adam Capital Asset LLC, a leader in the power lending space, has agreed to extend $ 1 million to Sustainable Enterprises (SEE) of Louisiana, a community- organization that is financing solar for disadvantaged communities in New Orleans. The loan will finance rooftop solar panels for more than 85 low-income properties, and help SEE turn out to be one of Louisiana?s top solar providers to low-income communities.

Right after Hurricane Katrina, the state of Louisiana recognized the crucial role solar energy can play in making communities less vulnerable to extreme climate events. The state has provided premium solar incentives to aid rebuild communities like New Orleans, but local homeowners and organizations have struggled to secure financing.

Adam Capital, a leading private investment fund in the renewable power sector, gives a lot-needed investment capital for clean power projects, thereby solving a critical funding gap in the market. The organization recognizes that solar financing is specifically important for low and , who devote a greater percentage of their income on power but cannot afford to own solar.

?With this program we?re taking what was regarded as a luxury good ? ? and bringing it to the people who require it most,? says Adam Boucher, CEO of Adam Capital. ?We?ve financed solar for schools, churches, and organizations, but we?re specifically thrilled to be component of rebuilding New Orleans as a safer, more sustainable city.?

SEE?s solar financing permits men and women on fixed incomes to get fixed energy expenses. With cost-effective solar leases, participants in the SEE plan can lock in lower-than-utility energy rates for years to come, with projected savings up to $ 58,000 over the life of the system.

Moreover, customers with medical needs can finance battery systems to supply back up power throughout storms or energy outages for up to 3 days. SEE has also negotiated exclusive insurance packages particularly for their buyers to cover the full replacement price of panels damaged or destroyed by storms. Given the historic population of houses in New Orleans, in numerous instances these solar panels will actually increase the quality of customer’s roofs.

?With these funds from Adam Capital, SEE is generating confident that clean inexpensive power goes to individuals who wouldn?t otherwise be able to get it,? says Lea Keal, CEO of SEE. ?This loan enables us to expand our programs serving communities of color, and low to moderate income homeowners. There is a quite genuine need to have in this community, but we didn?t have the dollars to serve this constituency till now. Thanks to Adam Capital, we?re literally leveling the playing field so the green revolution doesn?t pass by communities disadvantaged by lower incomes.?

About Adam Capital:

Adam Capital Clean Energy Asset Finance LLC is a private investment fund operating solely inside the clean power sector. We extend collateralized loans below $ ten million, an crucial niche within the clean power finance spectrum that is largely overlooked by banks, bond markets or venture capitalists. By leveraging ITC grant money payments and other nearby incentive rebates as collateral, we allow our borrowers to install significantly necessary community-scale clean-energy projects. We have funded hundreds of projects in many states and utility districts, serving the needs of people, schools, non-profits, and businesses.

About Sustainable Environmental Enterprises (SEE):

SEE is a Louisiana organization operating to rebuild New Orleans by making far more inexpensive with . The firm?s partners have knowledge in community development, housing finance, and sustainable constructing practices. They were an IDEACorps Innovation Award winner in 2009, and are supported by the Rockefeller Foundation. In 2010, SEE installed the first project on a commercial creating to be jointly approved by the US Green Developing Council and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. In 2011, SEE was invited to the White Home to participate in a roundtable discussion on Developing an Impact Economy in America.

For additional data get in touch with:

Larry Farris ? Senior Loan Operations

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