:: A More Efficient Direction ::  

Just as most twelve year old boys wouldn’t, I never talked much with my parents' friends when they would come over for a brief visit; I didn’t mind waving a simple hello and turning back to my yard work or bike. But there was one man in particular whom I didn’t mind trying to talk to every now and then. He was an elderly, widowed man about 70 years old who had turned a bit grumpy in his old age. Perhaps it was our shared interest in horses, or perhaps it was because he had a “get to the point” personality, but I always loved talking with him despite his sometimes cantankerous demeanor. I’ll always remember how he huffed at people to “get to the point. I’m 71 years old; I haven’t got much time left.” He was very cautious of his time because he knew how little he had left. He wanted to make sure that any time he used was used as efficiently as possible, even if it was just time spent in a conversation. Maybe he felt he had wasted time in the past, or maybe he just really had other things to do, but I learned a valuable point through my parents’ elderly friend—the less you have remaining of something, the more valuable it suddenly becomes to you.

We are experiencing this same lesson now as a nation. The more we expend our energy resources, the more valuable they become to us. Energy related issues are popping up everywhere ranked as top priorities across our nation. Each day, we are bombarded by startling energy related statistics and figures that remind us that the current energy path we are walking down is not sustainable. We see energy sources dwindling and, like my parents' elderly friend who saw time dwindling in front of him, there is an anxiousness to become the most efficient with what we have left. Regardless of whether some say it is a big or a small problem, the fact is that we do face inevitable consequences of our energy consumption.

Our current transient and global lifestyles have made us dependent on technologies that rely on all kinds of energy sources. Although it is not realistic on a global scale to say that we should all go back to one-car households or all bicycle to the grocery store, there are ways that we, both as a country and as individuals, can begin to conserve energy and live more energy efficient lifestyles. This doesn’t mean that you have to begin budgeting for the installation of solar panels in your home or immediately go out and replace your family cars with hybrids. Energy efficiency can begin on a smaller, more affordable scale.

While many see the energy crisis as spiraling out of control, we actually have more control over our energy than we think. Energy conservation is created by decreasing our use or dependency on energy, and by finding new and innovative ways to use the energy that is available to us. The path towards energy efficiency can veer off in a number of different directions, but ultimately, if we each begin down even one of the paths, we will move our country in a more efficient direction.

We must first seek technological change through innovative research and development. We become more energy efficient when we improve parts of technology within a service so that it requires less energy in the process. I recently supported the Advanced Fuels Infrastructure Research and Development Act, which would encourage the development of markets for alternative fuels and ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel through research, development, and demonstration. This would help us diversify our fuel supply to include domestically produced alternative biobased fuels and lessen our dependence on foreign sources of oil. Increasing federally funded energy research and development in our nation will increase our energy efficiency, while still allowing us some of the technological luxuries that we have become accustomed to.

We must be open to and encourage the use of products that use new materials or technology. This can be done by providing increased tax credits for consumers who purchase, for example, the most advanced available flexible fuel hybrid electric vehicles that are proven to dramatically reduce oil consumption. As a member of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus, we are continually looking at the latest advancements in renewable energy, hydrogen, fuel cells, energy-efficient buildings, transportation technologies, and industrial applications in an effort to promote cutting-edge technologies that protect the environment. Offering incentives for energy efficient products will encourage consumers to consider those products on an increased level, and will also encourage the expansion of energy-innovated market competition.

Perhaps the most readily available option to individuals seeking to impact our national energy efficiency is decreasing personal consumption of energy. Around 27 percent of final energy is consumed by private households, and much can be done on a personal level to contribute to the increase in energy efficiency across our country. When we decrease the use of a particular product, it may require us to give up a small amount of comfort that we are accustomed to, but we will reap great energy rewards as a country. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, your step towards increasing our efficiency in energy can be as little as updating the models of TVs and DVD players in your home. The average U.S. home has multiple entertainment systems, and studies find that replacing these models with Energy Star models would be the equivalent to taking 3 million cars off of the road. Repairing leaky faucets around your house could save gallons of water per month. The Department of Energy has a list of other low or no-cost ways to save energy in your home; this list is available on their website http://www.energy.gov/yourhome.htm. These small acts on a personal scale can have a huge impact on the overall global scale.

Over the next few months, I will be looking closely at this issue of energy efficiency in our nation. In the coming weeks, I will be releasing a primer on rising energy costs. I look forward to working with the members on the Renewable Energy Caucus to consider advancements in renewable energy. I look forward to hearing from you on this issue as well. I invite you to visit my website, http://randyforbes.house.gov, and email me with your questions and concerns regarding energy consumption in the United States. Together, we can move our country in a more efficient direction and help preserve the precious natural resources we have been blessed with.

:: National Homeownership Month ::  

Homeownership has always been a cornerstone of the American dream. Americans take pride in owning property and in the ability to provide shelter and comfort for their family. If you’ve never bought a home, the process towards purchasing a home can seem confusing, long, and difficult to break into. June is National Homeownership Month, a time to reflect on the importance of owning and maintaining a home, and a chance to learn more about the process of buying a home so that you can determine if owning a home is the right financial decision for you and your family at this point in your life.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development has established 9 steps to buying a home that make the home buying process a little less complicated.

1. Figure out how much you can afford. What you can afford depends on a number of things, including your income, credit rating, current monthly expenses, down payment, and interest rates. HUD has provided an online calculator to help you figure out how much you can afford.

2. Know your rights. As a person looking at buying a home, you have specific rights that you are entitled to, and it is important to be informed of those rights before you begin the homebuying process. Be sure you are familiar with Fair Housing Laws and mortgage rights. HUD has also provided a list of tips on protecting yourself from predatory lenders.

3. Shop for a loan. Just as you would shop around to make sure that you got the best deal on a car, you should shop around to make sure you get the best available loan. Talking to several lenders, comparing interest rates, and negotiating will save you money. Read the Looking for the Best Mortgage booklet for more information on finding the right loan.

4. Learn about homebuying programs. Each state has a number of homebuying assistance programs, resources, and agencies to help you make the step towards owning your own home. For a list of resources available in Virginia, click here.

5. Shop for a home. Shopping for a home may seem obvious, but many people get so excited about the possibility of owning their own home that they forget to ask important questions about neighborhood association rules, accessibility to nearby recreational facilities, or quality of nearby schools. HUD’s Wish List and Home-shopping Checklist will help you as you start to consider homes for sale.

6. Make an offer. The process of negotiating and making an offer can be intimidating. Consider these tips before you start to negotiate.

7. Get a home inspection. By making your offer contingent on a home inspection, you protect yourself from buying a home that needs major repairs. Read these important questions to ask a home inspector.

8. Shop for homeowner’s insurance. Most lenders require you to have homeowner’s insurance, but it is up to you to find the best coverage. Remember to ask about special coverage you may need for computers, antiques, jewelry, or musical instruments. You should also consider flood insurance, which is usually not included in homeowner’s insurance policies. The Consumer Action Handbook lists a number of suggestions for purchasing homeowner’s insurance and tips on finding the best price for the most coverage.

9. Sign papers. When you are ready to go into settlement or closing, remember to read everything before you sign. To read about selecting a settlement agent, the roles of real estate broker during settlement, and settlement costs, read HUD’s settlement information.

For more information on National Homeownership Month or the Department of Housing and Urban Development, please visit www.hud.gov.