LINKS
This page provides links to websites with additional information that may be of interest to the public. These sites privide a wide array of excellent information on NSP activities in Arizona, on green living and how to save money and natural resources, as wel as tools for calculating your commitment to a green, resource-saving lifestyle.
Links to other NSP AZ programs
HUD's Neighborhood Stabilization Program page
Basic information on the original and purpose of NSP, as well as links to relevant legislation.
HUD Office in Arizona NSP page
Basic information on local NSP Grantees, including grant amount, website, contact person as well as address, telephone and fax numbers.
Your Way Home Arizona
A One-Stop site for information for purchasing foreclosed homes through state, county and local governments. This site belongs to AZ Department of Housing.
Has a nice "Am I eligible?" page for users to determine if they qualify for a mortgage, found here.
Arizona Department of Housing NSP page
Has information on NSP funding allocated for different state and local entities in Arizona.
City of Phoenix NSP Information page
Provides a $15,000 "Homeownership Assistance" downpayment for qualified buyers, with informational links on buying foreclosed properties.
City of Glendale's page on the American Recoverty and Reinvestment Act
Provides information on First-time Homebuyer programs, Foreclosed property acquisition and rehabilitation and loan programs for eligible families.
City of Avondale's NSP Program page.
Identifies new and existing target neighborhood's that will be eligible for homeownership assistance.
Also presents extensive statistics and graphs about foreclosures and delinquent loans. Interesting.
City of Surprise NSP Page
Presents amendment to CBDG annual Action plan for use of existing NSP funds.
Also informs of NSP2 application to buy, refurbish and sell foreclosed homes.
City of Chandler First Time Homebuyer Program
Chandler has partnered with the Newtown Community Development Corporation to buy and redevelop foreclosed homes with NSP funds.
Buyers pay for the home but lease land from Newtown, under a community land trust arrangement.
City of Mesa NSP Page
Provides information on Mesa's NSP program, including a fact sheet and map of areas of major impact.
Mesa will buy, rehab and sell forclosed homes.
Pima County NSP1 page
Provides information about Tucson and other areas with high rates of foreclosure and abandonment. Will do rehabilitation using Pima County Green remodeling Guidelines.
Has Action Plan and many Foreclosure Risk Score, Foreclosure rate and USPS Vacancy Rate maps. Interesting.
Maricopa County Community Development NSP page
Last, but certainly not least, there is H2O's co-sponser, the Community Development Division of the Maricopa County Human Services Department. MCCD is responsibility for the receipt and expenditure of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) funding, and is the primary recipient of Homes to Owners NSP funds, to be used for buying foreclosed properties, rehabing them and then selling the homes to eligible homebuyers at affordable prices.
Sites with Energy & Resource-Saving Tips
Dept of Energy's Energy-Saving Tips
Tips for saving energy and money - The latest information for heating and cooling, insulation, lighting, appliances, landscaping, and renewable energy to power your home. Some of the tips are easy enough to do, while others may require more effort and investment, but promise big savings over the years.
Energy Savers, another great DOE site for information on energy-saving, efficient technologies can be found here. There is also a useful page on No-Cost and Low-Cost Tips to Save Energy This Summer, found here.
Home Energy Savers (HES) - A do-it-yourself Energy Audit Tool
The Home Energy Saver calculator is designed to help consumers identify the best ways to save energy in their homes, and find the resources to make the savings happen in residential buildings. The project is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), as part of the national ENERGY STAR Program for improving energy efficiency in homes, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the US Department of Housing and Urban Development's PATH program, and other entities.
Arizona Dept of Commerce
The Energy Office at the Arizona Department of Commerce has many excellent ideas to promote energy efficiency and renewable-energy usage. It provides provides energy information and policy advice, and supports reduced utility costs. This site also has a great page on its weatherization program to reduce the fuel or electricity expense for space heating, space cooling, and water heating for income-eligible households, while improving the health and safety of the dwelling"s occupants.
FTC's Savings Starts @ Home page - the Inside Story on Conserving Energy
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the US Government's consumer protection agency, has a very nice, graphics-based section about how to save you money in every room of your home. Has a nice page about Eco-speak terms like “recyclable,” “biodegradable,” and “ozone friendly” and how you can help you protect the environment. This site also has a Spanish-language version, Ahorros de Energia en el Hogar - Cambios cotidianos para conservar energia en la casa.
Consumer Energy Center
The California Energy Commission has a site on Consumer Tips to $ave Energy and Money. Focuses on energy conservation (reducing the level of energy use) and energy efficiency (getting the same job done while using less energy) in your home, office, school, car or truck, and many other areas.
Energy Star website
A page dedicated to the Energy Star program with tons of useful information on saving money and protecting the environment through energy efficient products and practices. The side has information on more than 60 categories of ENERGY STAR products that use less energy, save money, and help protect the environment. One of the main goals of the ENERGY STAR program is to develop performance-based specifications that determine the most efficient products in a particular category. Products that meet these specifications earn the ENERGY STAR label. Note that this program covers much more than appliances - it has standards and energy-saving ideas for for many home improvement items, buildings and even entire homes, and also plants.
Climate Change - What You Can Do
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a site on things you can do to reduce "Climate Change." Making a few small changes in your home and yard can lead to big reductions of greenhouse gas emissions and save money. There is a list of nine simple steps you can take around the house and yard to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The EPA also has a site called Watersense dedicated to protecting the future of our nation's water supply by promoting water efficiency and enhancing the market for water-efficient products, programs, and practices. Oh yes, Watersense also has a nice page for kids.
Interesting Green 'Footprint' Links
Green Communities Carbon Calculator
A useful online tool for calculating a person's "carbon footprint" using 3 parameters: air travel, automobile travel and home energy.
It provides a rough estimate of how much emissions a person's lifestyle and living patterns may cause during a year and then asks for donations to offset those emissions.
A Greenness Calculator: How green are you?
A 20-question quiz to determine a person's greeness, by Parkschool.org. Focuses on energy savings in the home and lifestyle. Asks questions like: Do you recycle? Do you have low-flow showerheads at home? Do you carpool? Do you turn off the lights when leaving a room? and so on. Points are added up to provide an above or below average greeness score, starting from a middle situation. Have fun!
Energy Conservation Calculator
An interesting tool for calculating different aspects of energy use, by Warmair.com. Provides the following data: air conditioner efficiency (savings with a higher SEER rated system), air exchange sizing calculator (to properly size equipment in your home), attic insulation calculator (to figure energy savings with better insulation), bypass humidifier (to calculate humidifier size requirements) and CADR - Clean Air Delivery Rate (to estimate the proper size for air purifier equipment).
Other Housing Tools
FHA Mortgage Calculator
A simple tool designed to determine how much you can safely borrow in order to finance your home.
It also tells how much the monthly payments will be and shows the amortization schedule for the loan.
HUD Income & Allowances Calculator
One of several interactive tools on HUD's website to determine income eligibility and assistance amounts for applicants to HUD programs. Enter the requested data and this calculator will work behind the scenes to generate a summary of results. It takes about 15 minutes to complete and is "as easy as 1-2-3."
