The Home Star proposal would provide rebates that would go to consumers making improvements when they are purchasing efficient products and efficiency services. The program has two types of rebates: Silver Star and Gold Star. The Silver Star rebates would provide $1,000 to $1,500 to consumers for each straightforward upgrade, like adding insulation, duct sealing, or purchasing new efficient water heaters, HVAC units, roofing and doors. Consumers may get up to $3,000 in Silver Star rebates.

The Gold Star Rebates are where consumers get the best bang for the buck. Gold Star would offer a $3,000 rebate for a retrofit based on a home energy audit that will save at least 20 percent on energy consumption.

Of course, Congress has the final say on this plan, so expect some changes. Click HERE to get the full scoop thanks to www.greenandsave.com.

Athens was the only small town on the list, which also named Minneapolis, Denver, Seattle, D.C., Chicago, LA and Boston as top cities. She said Athens was known for its love of UGA, pretty architecture and thriving music scene. The segment showed a 3BR/3BA home listed at $132,900 as a great example of the low real estate prices in town.

To watch the full segment from The Today Show, CLICK HERE.

Monday also is the deadline for Clarke County residents to file for homestead exemptions, a tax break on owner-occupied houses. Homeowners who already have a homestead exemption do not need to reapply. For more info, CLICK HERE to read this Athens Banner-Herald article.

1.    Living Smaller: The days of decadence and McMansions are over. Smart builders are already figuring out creative ways to build smaller, tighter, more energy-efficient homes with better use of space. Buyers don’t want to sacrifice luxury, but they will give up square footage to lessen their footprint. The average size of a new house decreased last year for the first time in nearly three decades and we predict that trend will continue.

2.    Adaptive Reuse: You can recycle more than paper and plastic. More and more people are adapting old buildings for new uses while retaining their historic features. We’ve seen this trend grow over the last several years in Athens and it will only continue due to the demand for in-town living options.

3.    Walkability: As we mentioned, there has been a growing demand for in-town living, particularly from baby boomers, who want to live where they can walk or ride their bikes to do their daily activities. We hope Clarke County will maintain an emphasis on enhancing sidewalks, bike lanes, greenways and parks because demand for these amenities from buyers will continue to grow.

Article courtesy of The Athens Banner-Herald. Click HERE for more info and a list of appliances that qualify.

Last week, Adams yielded to student's wishes and approved the new office to coordinate campus energy conservation, recycling and other sustainability efforts.

Read the full article HERE thanks to The Athens Banner-Herald.

Last weekend, tiny Madison, GA, raised $30,000 during a benefit concert to support Hope for Haiti, a FL-based non-profit started by a Madison resident. Now a UGA Professor who worked for 20 years in Haiti has planned, Athens For Haiti, a benefit concert to be held at 8pm, Jan. 30th, at the Town & Gown Theatre. All funds raised will go straight to those in dire need in Haiti.

Local green builder and renewable energy expert, Tony Purcell, teaches Solar Thermal Water Heating System training classes right here in Athens. You can get info on upcoming Jan/Feb classes HERE.

Tony has already completed one project for the EPA on College Station Road (photo left) for their main lab building. It can be seen from the street when driving by on the right side of the roof (facing the building). He has also done an installation for a house built in Bogart that achieved Earthcraft Platinum certification and his personal home has an active solar space heating system installed via a hydronic radiant floor system. He's also done numerous other smaller residential installations in the local area.