The FHA Energy Efficient Mortgage program (EEM) is a federal program that helps home buyers, providing them with mortgage insurance to finance the cost of adding energy efficiency features to new homes, saving money on utility bills.

Very plain and simple, an energy efficient home costs less to operate, the bank knows you could afford a larger mortgage if the cost of running your home is considerably lower. The borrower does not have to qualify for the additional money and does not make a down payment on it.

The EEM program not only applies to new homes, existing homes are also eligible for these mortgages. For an existing home, you will need a home energy rating system report (HERS), which will give the house an energy rating, then suggest improvements and costs. The report ranges from $100 to $300.

Remember that FHA insures loans, FHA does not provide loans.

Source:HUD

Cinco de Mayo is a significant holiday that celebrates the Mexican defeat of the French army at the Battle of Puebla back in 1862 but, more importantly, is a celebration of the rich culture and heritage of our neighbors to the south.

Speaking of battles, I spent my Cinco de Mayo, trying to find more ways to get greener at home. Pick your own battles to help this planet be greener.

Here are some ideas:

Kitchen battles
 Air dish dishes instead of using dishwasher drying cycle.
 Be sure the dishwasher is full, but not overloaded, when you run it.

Car battles
 Speeding, rapid acceleration and braking only waste gasoline. Drive sensibly, I know sometimes is hard, but next time you are pushing the gas pedal remember that each mile per hour (mph) you drive over 60 mph is like paying $0.10 more per gallon of gas.
 Keep tires properly inflated and aligned to improve your gasoline mileage by around 3.3%

Laundry battles
 Wash and dry full loads of clothes, if small, use the right water level.
 Clean the lint filter in the dryer after every load to improve air circulation.

There is something about May that makes me happier, it has nothing to do with been born in May, maybe it is because crops begin to sprout and flowers emerge. Now, we do not get to have a May 1st on a Friday that often, so today, is extra special.
For all my ex-colleagues in the Telecom industry, happy Friday to you, remember how we used to celebrate Friday’s, sharing snacks and delicious food from around the world? You are missed dearly.

I hope where ever you are today, you are taking the time to enjoy the first day of May, I can’t wait to see what this beautiful month will bring us.

Have you been taking care of you garden? Well, maybe I should ask, have you planted anything at all this year? If you have not, go out, get some fresh air. Gardening lowers stress levels.

If you need some ideas on what works best here in Dallas, take a trip to the Dallas Arboretum, always inspiring gardeners to new ideas. You could also check the United State Department of Agriculture for a comprehensive list of Texas native plants.

Here are some of my favorite Texas native plants, with their scientific and common names:

Amblyolepis setigera
Huisache daisy
Butterfly daisy
Honey daisy

* Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii
Flame acanthus
Hummingbird bush
Wright’s desert honeysuckle
Wright acanthus

Cercis canadensis var. texensis
Texas redbud

* Coreopsis tinctoria
Plains coreopsis
Golden tickseed
Goldenwave
Calliopsis

Gaillardia pulchella
Firewheel
Indian Blanket

* Hibiscus laevis
Halberdleaf rosemallow
Halberdleaf hibiscus
Scarlet rose mallow

Juniperus ashei
Ashe juniper
Ashe’s juniper
Mountain cedar
Blueberry juniper

* Lantana urticoides
Texas lantana
West Indian shrubverbena
West Indian shrub-verbena
Trailing lantana
Calico bush

Lupinus texensis
Bluebonnet
Texas bluebonnet
Texas lupine
Buffalo clover
Wolf-flower

Prunus mexicana
Mexican plum
Bigtree plum

* Thelesperma filifolium
Eastern gamagrass

Reference: www.plants.usda.gov ; www.wildflower.org

Going GREEN is not only about saving our planet; it is also about saving money.

Here are some small updates to start with:

* Change the strips around your window frames, where a substantial heat loss occurs.

* A programmable thermostat can also help you. According to Energy Star a small change like this could save you about $180 every year in energy costs.

* Having a dirty air filter will only slow down airflow, and make your system work harder to keep your house cool or warm. Change your air filter regularly, every month during winter and summer, when the use is heavy. Preventing dust and dirt from building up in the system will save you money in maintenance.

* Switch those incandescent bulbs for fluorescent lamps; they are more efficient and provide high quality lighting. They pay for themselves by saving you energy over time.

* A refrigerator is often the home’s heaviest electricity user, yes, sorry to bring you the news. Make sure your refrigerator door seals are tight, if they are not, replace them. Recommended temperatures are 37° to 40°F for the fresh food compartment and 5°F for the freezer section.

And finally, ok, this one might sound obvious, but hey! I will tell you anyway, turn out the lights! Change some of your habits.

Have you ever been to a Botanical Garden, and wondered how those flowers grow so beautifully?

One of the secrets is rich soil. Here in Dallas, as well as many other cities, our soil is not what we would call rich. Successful gardeners buy compost or make their own, this way they can see those gorgeous flowers grow. A way to make your soil or compost garden friendly is by adding coffee grounds.

Starbucks supports the recycling effort through its “Grounds for your Garden” program, they produce a lot of used coffee grounds, best of all, they are FREE. Go to your local Starbucks and ask for some coffee grounds. I always use them in my gardens; they work miracles with flowers, fruits and vegetables.

Coffee grounds are rich in nutrients like phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium. You can mix them with the soil or with your compost. Check with your local gardening expert for the right amount to use, let them know what you are growing or planing to grow. Who says you can not save some money while investing in your garden?