EnviroHouse is a green building and natural landscape exhibit featuring readily available, environmentally friendly materials to create a healthy home and planet. Visit the EnviroHouse; admission is free. For more information call (253)573-2426 or visit www.cityoftacoma.org/envirohouse.
Here's what you'll find
Lighting: EnviroHouse incorporates energy-efficient fluorescent lighting that consumes 75 percent less energy and lasts 7 to10 times longer than incandescent lighting.
- Energy Star qualified fixtures use less energy and save money in your home. We currently offer a $20 instant rebate per Energy Star fixture at participating stores. For more info visit www.energystar.gov/lighting.
- New Solar Tube – enhances natural day lighting which reduces the use of electric lights during the day.
Appliances: Energy Star appliances are showcased in the EnviroHouse and use 10 to 50 percent less energy and water then standard models.
- Dishwasher – An Energy Star-qualified dishwasher can save you more than $30 per year compared with models made prior to 1994.
- Refrigerator - Energy Star qualified refrigerators use at least 15 percent less energy than required by current federal standards and 40% less energy than conventional models sold in 2001. Looking to get rid of an old refrigerator? Have it hauled away for no cost and receive a $30 refrigerator/freezer recycling rebate. Schedule an appointment at www.jacoinc.net
- Clothes Washer – An Energy Star qualified clothes washer can save you $550 in operating costs over its lifetime compared with a standard clothes washer. We offer our residential customers up to $100 for high-efficiency clothes washers through the Washwise Rebate Program. Visit www.washwiserebate.com or www.energystar.gov/appliances for more information.
- New Solar Panels are a source of renewable electricity from the sun with no harmful impacts on the environment. Panels reduce the electrical consumption of the EnviroHouse and therefore the house is eligible for federal and local financial incentives through our Net Metering program.
- 10 Sanyo solar panels capable of producing 1900 watts that can generate up to 1900 kilowatt hours a year.
- Tacoma Power’s Net Metering program will pay up to $.24/kWh for every kWh produced by a residential solar PV system.
- Real time solar production monitoring from The EnviroHouse available at http://www.tacomapower.com/greenpower/EnviroHouse.swf
Water Heater: The high efficiency Marathon water heater comes with a Lifetime warranty and Envirofoam insulation, which is free of ozone depleting CFCs and HCFCs so it helps save the planet and energy.
- The seamless, blow molded polybutylene tank is impervious to rust and corrosion.
- The tank is designed, built and warranted not to leak “for as long as you own your home.”
- An all plastic tank that eliminates the need for an anode rod- preventing potential odor problems.
Heating and Cooling Systems
New MINI SPLIT HEAT PUMP
Is your house to small to justify the $7,500 to $10,000.00 expense of a new heat pump? Is your home becoming unbearably warm in the summer? Are you trying to get a handle on your energy bill? There is a relatively new technology available to help heat and cool your home without the added expense of a new duct system. It is called a mini-split heat pump. It works just like a heat pump but instead of transferring the heat via duct work, it transfers the heat via refrigeration lines between the heat pump and the indoor unit.
Mini split heat pumps are an option for the following:
- Homes without existing ductwork
- Smaller homes that don’t justify the expense of a standard heat pump.
Mini split heat pump benefits:
- Lower energy bills
- Air conditioning in the summer
- No duct work
We are not offering an incentive on the Mini Split Heat Pump at this time.
For more information contact our Energy Service Office at (253) 502-8363.
To see a working mini split heat pump, visit The EnviroHouse located at 3510 S. Mullen St., Tacoma, WA. Call (253) 573-2426 with questions.