Having a reputation of being "into" sustainability provides great connections, friendships, and sometimes a leg up in marketing. Today, I'm humbled and proud to share my latest featured article. But this one is about my house!
Today, hot off the presses is my latest featured article from Pearl Certification!
Some may know that my home is the first Pearl Gold Certified home in Arizona. If not, you do now! Since earning the Gold Certification July 31, 2018, the home has now achieved the status of Net Zero! This means that I'm producing as much energy as I use.
And if you think I went solar first, think again. The best path toward accomplishing this for the best return on investment is to reduce before you produce energy. Start with an energy audit to learn of the lowest cost, best return on investment items to add to your home. From light bulbs to spray foam insulation, I did just that. After at least a year, that's when you want to size your home for solar panels to eliminate the rest of the bill to earn the "net zero" status.
Sizing my home for solar panels also included the extra energy needed to power my electric car. The amount I paid in 2022 for electricity, for my house and car, was $212. If I had known how much more energy I would need to cover that final piece, I could have added yet one more solar panel.
But because my water heater is now eleven years old, swapping it out for a new heat pump water heater should eliminate the rest of the bill required to not pay ANY electricity to charge my car!
Thank you to Pearl Certification for this article!
If you're a homeowner and want to start retrofitting your home, reach out to Pearl. They have all the vendors and can help you get started!
And if you're looking to buy or sell a home in Arizona, make sure to use a knowledgeable professional in real estate!

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