The upgrades you have done will save you money on your bills - more than your additional repayments - plus your home will be more comfortable. The only reason everyone doesn't know about it is that the person who benefits is the homebuyer - you - and not the lender, broker or real estate agent, so no one tells you.

The EEM is also available if you are refinancing or buying a property for redevelopment.

If you would like to improve the energy efficiency of the home you are in, check out the Home Energy Savings section. If you are planning major or minor upgrades to make your home an energy efficient home this section has information on all the incentives and tax credits available to you in your state. There is also a page on energy efficient tips that will help you reduce your energy use and a page featuring some of the latest eco-gadgets.

As a qualified home energy auditor I know the benefits of helping people make their homes energy efficient. The Home Energy Rating System (HERS) is the best available method for rating your home's energy efficiency.

A HERS Rater will do a lot more than just give your home an energy efficiency rating.

Certified HERS Raters are professionals who can asses many different aspects of your home and who use specialized software to work out which upgrades would save you the most money and therefore be the best investments you could make. If you want an energy efficient home I would suggest calling one of these guys to discuss your options.

When we look to buy a new home very few people think to ask home much the energy bills are, even though these bills are generally the second largest home expense after the mortgage payment. If you are buying a house having it inspected by a HERS Rater is a good move. They will be able to give you an accurate picture of how energy efficient the house is which directly effects the energy bills.

There are a large number of homes that still use the old type incandescent light bulbs. Take a look around your home. Each old type bulb could be costing you up to $20 per year more than a new low energy bulb would. Imagine walking round your home and changing light bulbs and finding a twenty stuck to each one. The section on Lighting will help you choose the right low energy bulbs that give the perfect light and save you money.

There is a section on energy efficient Windows and Doors which will help you select the correct glass, frame and type of opening to suit your need, taking into account the climate you live in and the direction the window faces. This section also has good information on how you can make your current windows and doors more efficient by adding weatherstripping, window film and shading such as blinds and awnings.

Heating and cooling our homes takes a lot of energy but did you know that in most homes over 30% of that heating and cooling energy is wasted? In the Heating and Cooling section we take a look at the different options available to you to ensure the temperature of your home is always at its most comfortable and that you are not paying to much to keep it that way.

Water Heating is one of the largest users of energy in most homes but technology has been working hard to find solutions to help us reduce the amount of energy we waste in keeping the hot water hot. This section has information on all the different options available to supply your needs for hot water.

There are an ever increasing number of energy efficient Appliances, many of which qualify for tax rebates. This section covers everything from fridges to fireplaces and washers to wood stoves.

I hope you find all the information you need to make your home an energy efficient home. If you have any questions I will do my best to answer them. Please use the comment pages or email me through the contact section.