Environment & Disaster - Home Owner Costs
ENERGY BILLS:By using a few inexpensive energy-efficient measures, homeowners can reduce their energy bills by 10% to 50% and help reduce air pollution.
WATER BILLS: Reducing the amount of water and wastewater to be treated can save on infrastructure costs and management costs.
PROPERTY TAXES: As the number and severity of natural disasters increase, property taxes increase also.
INSURANCE PREMIUMS: In its 1998 year-end report, insurance giant Munich Re estimated that the number of natural catastrophes has tripled since the 1960s, increasing the overall cost to the insurance industry fifteen-fold.
HEALTH COSTS: In spring of 2003, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that approximately 434,000 U.S. children aged 1 – 5 years have blood lead levels greater that the government recommended level of 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood.
DISASTERS: Weather-related disasters including floods, droughts, and windstorms are growing in frequency and intensity.
ENERGY BILLS: By using a few inexpensive energy-efficient measures, homeowners can reduce their energy bills by 10% to 50% and help reduce air pollution.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the typical family spends close to $1,300 a year on their home's utility bills.i
Unfortunately, a large portion of that energy is wasted. The amount of energy wasted just through poorly insulated windows and doors is about as much energy as we get from the Alaskan pipeline each year.ii If each American replaced one 100 Watt incandescent bulb with a compact fluorescent lamp, we would save enough energy to eliminate three power plants.iii
When you are buying, selling, refinancing, or remodeling your home, you can increase your comfort and actually save money by using an Energy Efficient Mortgage. It is easy to use, federally recognized, and can be applied to most home mortgages. An Energy Efficient Mortgage is based on the simple logic that homeowners with lower utility bills have more money in their pocket each month. They can afford to allocate a larger portion of their income to housing expenses. For example:iv
| | Older
existing home | Same Home
with energy
improvements | Home price:
(90% mortgage, 8% interest) | $150,000 | $154,816 | | Loan amount | $ 135,000 | $139,334 | | Monthly Payment* | $991 | $1023 | | Energy bills | $ 186 | $ 93 | The true monthly
cost of home ownership | $ 1,177 | $ 1,116 | | Monthly savings | - | $ 61 |
* Estimated mortgage payments are based upon principle and interest only, and do not include taxes and insurance. Values indicated here are for example only, and will vary from home to home.
DID YOU KNOW?!
Electricity generated by fossil fuels for one home puts more carbon dioxide into the air than two average cars.
WATER BILLS: Reducing the amount of water and wastewater to be treated can save on infrastructure costs and management costs.
Much of the water and wastewater infrastructure in the U.S. was built during times of economic growth (the 1890’s boom, a World War I boom, a roaring ‘20s boom and the massive post-World War II baby boom.v This infrastructure is now approaching the end of its useful life.vi The American Water Works Association estimates water utilities will have to invest $300 billion over the next 20 years to replace aging pipes. The cost of pipes for new developments, security upgrades, advanced treatment methods and other needs may raise that bill to $500 billion.vii This is a cost which, ultimately, will be borne by the homeowner.
DID YOU KNOW?!
The U.S. uses 408 billion gallons of water each day.viii
PROPERTY TAXES: As the number and severity of natural disasters increase, property taxes increase also.
Property taxes typically include costs associated with fire-fighting programs, police, street construction, parks, etc. Such costs reflect, among other things, the costs for responding to natural disasters. Global climate change is resulting in rising sea level, increasing severe weather events, and other conditions conducive to natural disasters. Global climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of hurricanes, floods, droughts, wildfires, and coastal erosion.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a 20 inch rise in sea level is anticipated within this century. Costs (likely to be subsidized by an increase in property taxes) to build dikes, raise roadways, and relocate utilities are estimated at $30-40 billion (1988 $).ix
DID YOU KNOW?!
During the late nineties boom, ordinary families seemed to benefit; however, when the data was analyzed, it indicated that “the average real after-tax income of the middle 60 % of the population was lower than in 1977.”x
INSURANCE PREMIUMS: In its 1998 year-end report, insurance giant Munich Re estimated that the number of natural catastrophes has tripled since the 1960s, increasing the overall cost to the insurance industry fifteen-fold.
By 2050, mega-catastrophes, which used to appear every 100 years, are predicted to occur every 25 years with single "worst case" disasters in excess of $100 billion.xi Munich Re attributes this large increase to the growing concentrations of people and property in coastal regions and other "high-risk zones," as well as to global climate changexii
DID YOU KNOW?!
Approximately $2 trillion in insured property now lies within 30 kilometers (18.64 miles) of coasts exposed to Atlantic hurricanes.xiii
HEALTH COSTS: In spring of 2003, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that approximately 434,000 U.S. children aged 1 – 5 years have blood lead levels greater that the government recommended level of 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood.xiv
In low levels, lead can cause: nervous system and kidney damage; learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder, and decreased intelligence; speech, language, and behavior problems; poor muscle coordination; decreased muscle and bone growth; and hearing damage. In high levels, lead can have devastating effects on children, including seizures, unconsciousness, and death.xv
DID YOU KNOW?!
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that homes built before 1978 probably have lead based paint.
On May 25, 2004, the National Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Medicine issued a report, Damp Indoor Spaces and Healthxvi, identifying health impacts of moisture and mold in homes and other buildings.
The report concludes that there is a significant association between damp indoor spaces and asthma attacks. It also concludes that dampness is associated with mold, dust mites, bacteria, and vermin. Exposure to toxic irritants produced by mold in damp buildings is associated with respiratory problems. Some building materials can emit chemicals or small particles when damp, which may be a health concern. There are molds that can grow on wood, paper, carpet, and foods. When excessive moisture or water accumulates indoors, mold growth will often occur, particularly if the moisture problem remains undiscovered or unaddressed.
DID YOU KNOW?!
There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment; the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture.
DISASTERS: Weather-related disasters including floods, droughts, and windstorms are growing in frequency and intensity.
In the 1990s, natural catastrophes like hurricanes, floods, and fires affected more than two billion people and caused in excess of $608 billion in economic losses worldwide-a loss greater than during the previous four decades combined.xvii Average annual damage from tornadoes, hurricanes, and floods is $11.4 billion, of which :xviii- hurricanes average $5.1 billion and 20 deaths per year;
- floods account for $5.9 billion, and average over 80 deaths per year;
- tornadoes cause $1.1 billion in damages.
DID YOU KNOW?!
Since 1980, weather-related disasters have caused more than 575,000 deaths and have forced many more people to flee their homes.
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