For some, LED lights, a high-efficiency HVAC and a recycled wall and floor coverings are just the beginning. They want to take it a step further and soak up the sun's energy, reap the wild wind. These measures are expensive, and considering the cost savings they deliver, they'll never pay for themselves whithout some sort of subsidy.
But there's a website — www.dsireusa.org — that lists programs in each state where federal money is available for homeowners and businesses looking to add solar or wind power, or even everyday things like windows and insulation.
"I can use that to drill down based on the state and the community and I can look and see if, perchance, the local utility has an incentive program for me to redo my lighting. Or if the feds have money for me to redo my glazing," says Rick Ferrara, an architect with a background in both sustainability and retail for San Francisco-based Gensler. "It's a good thing to be aware of because there may be some low-hanging fruit. Every state is different, and the programs come and go, but it's a national database and it's a really, really great source."
