If you search long enough, sometimes you can find out the most amazing Green Secrets around.  This one I did not really search for, but I was SHOCKED when someone told me about this.  :)

In Houston we have to worry about our Cooling Bills.  As a matter of fact I heard one time that our Air Conditioners account for up to 80% of our Electricity usage monthly.  Even in December we turn on our A/C sometimes.

With Utility Rates on the rise Houston is longing to become a little more Green.  Many people are doing this by trying to get their home more Energy Efficient.

We can change out light bulbs, add insulation in our attic, change out windows...

But when it comes down to it, all of the Leaky Holes in your home REALLY need to be addressed before you can see a significant reduction in bills.  There are companies out there that can perform Energy Audits to tell you where you are using the most electricity.  They also do a Blower Door Test (put a negative air pressure in your home to see where air leaks) and this helps tremendously to know how to make your home a little tighter.

THEN, you can call out a local HandyMan to seal up your home.  Weather Strip your doors, Caulk your Windows, Seal your A/C Vents and Duct Work...etc.

By the time you spend $350 for the Energy Audit and then pay a local HandyMan (my bid for JUST Caulking windows was $150) This can really add up.  It will help, but it adds up.

What my GREEN Secret is?

You can get ALL OF THIS FOR FREE!!! 

Someone told me one day about this Program and I just HAD to check it out.  It is a Company called Free Lighting Corp. that comes out to do a Blower Door Test and weatherstrips doors and all of the other items I mentioned.  The program is mandated by State Law and the Public Utility Commission that the company that maintains the lines PAY for this.  That is how it is FREE!!!

The Company is 3rd Party and gets paid on the Variance of the Blower Door Test Before and After they do their work...so basically, they want to do a good job. 

There is no income restriction for this program...Everyone qualifies.  Even Rental Property.  IF there is a household income restriction, they will even blow Insulation in your Attic up to R-30 and give you a Hot Water Heater Blanket. 

As soon as I heard about this, I just had to call them out.  It's for real.  How it has helped?  That is my next blog post.  :)