Learning to green

The students told the Energy News Network that drastically greening Geason-Bauer’s home was more straightforward than they might have imagined, and showed common sense ways that people can help mitigate climate change.

“We as students are the future, so we will have to deal with the repercussions of climate change, so the more we can prepare and educate ourselves, the more we can try to change climate change,” said Brayden Jackson, who helped research green mortgages and wants to major in finance in college.

“Solar panels and white roofs can be installed in all communities no matter the income of the area,” added Collin Carmody. “The faster that more people have access to these environmentally friendly ways to live, the faster we slowly start to fix the problems that we have created on our wounded planet.”

Student Makaila Muench worked with student Lexi Scaffido to research why air sealing and ventilation are crucial to energy efficiency and hence cutting carbon emissions. “Our actions — or lack thereof — are responsible for climate change,” Muench said.

Geason-Bauer and her husband, Mike, bought the home in 2018 and started rehabbing it for increased efficiency, soon earning a 5 out of 10 on the U.S. Department of Energy’s Home Energy scale. The couple wanted to do better, so they sought financing for more expansive renovations, ultimately refinancing the home to leverage funds through the sustainability-focused financial institution Greenpenny.

This year, the home earned a 10 out of 10 on the same scale.

Green loans, mortgages and refinances offer better rates than conventional loans, and homeowners can use the savings from energy efficiency and renewables to help pay off the loans. Geason-Bauer estimates that after spending $80,000 on the upgrades, they will save about $150 a month compared to utility bills if they otherwise would have paid. With those savings, they plan to pay off the mortgage in 18 years rather than the standard 30.

Geason-Bauer and her husband were able to access the 26% federal Investment Tax Credit for the solar and storage. Their Generac battery means they can survive without grid power if necessary for several days based on their typical use, or send energy back to the grid. They also installed an electric A/C system with a heat pump and electric hot water heater, after their archaic gas boiler died.

Geason-Bauer noted that her roof meets California’s stringent green building standards, and resulted in an insurance discount. It is built to withstand 140 mph winds, which Geason-Bauer said is comforting since the area can experience extreme storms or even tornados. The roof is from Malarkey shingles made in Oregon using recycled plastic bags and tires, and it can stay 20 degrees cooler than a conventional roof would, according to Geason-Bauer’s website.

“I learned how much safer this type of roof is for the environment,” noted Scaffido. But she added that even with financing options like Geason-Bauer accessed, “We are aware that not everybody is capable of affording the costs of renovations” like a new roof.

“Those who belong to lower-income communities can make changes to their lives for little to no cost,” she said. “An easy one is to just use less energy; turn off lights, don’t run AC or heat unless necessary. There are so many ways for everyone to make little changes. But that is the problem, people think that these little changes won’t have a big impact, but in reality, they do.”