Article Title: Cozier - and cheaper, too

Excerpt: Young is participating in the nonprofit's program, Home Performance with Energy Star. "A lot of people don't realize if they take a few steps, they can get ahead of the energy crisis," she said.

Excerpt: Her house’s energy weaknesses were diagnosed during a four-hour test on Oct. 10 by a certified contractor. Once all the suggested improvements are made, the energy savings, coupled with cash incentives and tax credits, are expected to pay back Young’s intial investment in seven years, then continue saving her money. The program offers up to 30 percent energy savings for homeowners who decide to participate.

Excerpt: Young’s next step was to go to the Energy Trust Web site and choose a contractor from the nonprofit’s trade affiliates. She selected Paul Case, owner of Home Visions West, a Hillsboro-based business specializing in weatherization for more than 20 years. Case is certified through the Building Performance Institute, a national organization, to implement Home Performance with Energy Star.

Excerpt: For the diagnosis, Case hooked up equipment to suck air out of Young’s house, which in turn sucked air into the leaking areas. Young said she could feel and see the leaks during the process, which usually takes three to four hours. The testing analyzes the home as a whole to find its leaks.

Article Title: Exploring energy efficient homes

Excerpt: Aaron Needham has countless reasons to be excited about the new energy-efficient homes his company is building in Southern Utah.

Excerpt: By combining solar power with new energy-efficient technologies, Needham said homeowners can enjoy lower energy bills and the comfort in knowing their home is contributing to a cleaner environment. He calls them hybrid energy homes because they incorporate solar power with gas and electricity to maximize efficiency.

Excerpt: Beginning in spring of 2007, Needham said Cedar City will have homes with complete hybrid-energy packages starting at under $200,000. Needham added that the homes, which he said look remarkably normal, are highly affordable - even for families who are just starting out.