What is the 35% Incentive About?

Thanks to the Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance, homeowners are now eligible for a 35% incentive towards the cost of certain energy saving improvements to their homes. This is a direct cash incentive and can be combined with the 6.99% GC-HELP loan (Greater Cincinnati Home Energy Loan Program). The loan includes a quick and easy application process, no prepayment penalty nor security requirement, and up to 10 years repayment time. For more information, call the Energy Alliance at 621-4232 or see their website.

Why does WestCURC Want You to Go Green?

As a community development corporation working to rehabilitate Westwood homes, we feel a strong responsibility to make sure the homes are as energy efficient as we can make them. Not only does this reduce the home's impact on the earth's natural resources, but it helps the homeowner to save money on the cost of ownership.

In addition to this home-by-home commitment, we are taking what we're learning and trying to spread the message throughout the neighborhood. We're trying to convince Westwood residents to live green by focusing on simple changes that can be easily made at home.

We encourage you to check out David Gershon's book, The Low Carbon Diet: A 30-day Program to Lose 5,000 Pounds.  It can be found at the Westwood Branch Library. The book guides readers through simple changes to reduce a household's carbon footprint. It's easy and it's fun, especially when done with a friend or neighbor!

For even more information, we encourage you to check out the web site of the Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance. There you can sign up for a home energy assessment, find qualified home performance contractors, and learn simple tips to save energy at home - right now! The web site can be found here.

What Can You Do to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint?

Based on David Gershon's work, WestCURC would like to challenge Westwood residents and others (anyone reading this) to reduce the carbon footprint of your life. We'll post some ideas for you to start implementing at home.  

• Recycle and reduce the amount of solid waste your household throws into the garbage. The City of Cincinnati provides this list of items that can be placed in your recycling bin.  Familiarize yourself and educate your family on what you can recycle.  Spend some time setting up a recycling system in your home.  See if you can reduce your amount of weekly waste by one garbage can size.
• Did you know that heating hot water for a 10-minute shower can generate as much as 4 pounds of CO2? Try to shorten your shower and use a low-flow shower head. You can save several hundred pounds of CO2 a year.
• Make sure your kitchen faucet has an aerator. This reduces the water flow by 25%!
• Do your clothes really need to be washed after one wearing? Wear your clothes until they are actually dirty. When you do wash your clothes, wash full loads and use cold water.
• How low can you set your home's thermostat? Can you try for 65-68 degrees while you're home and 55-58 degrees at night or when everyone is out of the home? And don't forget a programmable thermostat; this can reduce your heating bill up to 20%.