Urban Options Services
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Home Energy Check-up Service
Home Energy Check Up is a service offered by Urban Options for people interested in learning how to make their homes more energy efficient. An Urban Options representative can visit your home and provide suggestions for improvements that will save energy and money and make your home’s systems work better. A state certified energy auditor will examine your home from the basement to the attic and make objective energy saving recommendations regarding insulation levels, windows and doors, water usage, heating & cooling systems, and lighting & appliances.
For $90, the Home Energy Check Up representative will spend a minimum of 1 hour performing an energy check up on your home and provide you with a personalized Home Energy Check Up checklist. Participants will also receive educational materials and resources and a 1 year membership to Urban Options (a $35 value).
Home Energy Rating Service
Urban Options serves as a referral agency to the various “Home Energy Raters” located throughout the State. These certified energy professionals provide a thorough home energy analysis that utilizes computer software to compare a home’s energy performance against the best performance possible for that home. An improvement analysis report that identifies energy efficiency upgrades is provided with the home energy rating.
At the site visit, the Energy Rater collects data necessary to calculate a Home Energy Rating. Home Energy Ratings indicate the energy efficiency of a new or existing home. Ratings are 1-100 points and 1-5 stars. A 5 star rating qualifies a house for the ENERGY STAR designation. The fees charged for the on-site visit to collect the energy related data and produce the improvement analysis report will vary.
Energy and Environmental Demonstration House and Exhibits
The most recent Demonstration House improvement was the installation of a solar roof in the fall of 1997. Other recent improvements include compost demonstration signs, indirect high-efficiency lighting in the library, ceiling fans, and an exhibit storage area. An online tour of the house is on this web site. Earth-Friendly Homes, a portable, computerized touch-screen exhibit, was also recently developed for use in Future-Friendly Home Workshops and for other special events.
Solar Home Tour
The National Tour of Solar Buildings, previously titled the National Solar Home Tour, takes place in the fall every year. Last year it was held on Saturday, October 4, 2003, at various sites throughout Michigan. The Greak Lakes Renewable Energy Association (GLREA) helped coordinate activities. More information will become available as the event nears. For more information about the annual tour, please visit the GLREA website at www.glrea.org.
Special For-Fee* Programs and Services
School Programs
Composting with Worms (K-5): also deals with waste reduction, recycling, general composting, and ecology. Worms, worm bins, and a teacher’s educational packet are provided.
Fee: $75 for 1 hour and 1 classroom with up to 35 students, $50 for each additional class or additional hour at the same school, plus mileage.**
(Lansing school district programs (K-5) are currently free, sponsored by a grant from the City of Lansing.)
School or Group Tours of the Demonstration House
Group tours are available to schools, civic groups, adult education classes, and many other organizations. Group Tours feature an overview of energy efficiency and ecological options for the home.
Available tour hours are:
Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday – 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Thursday – 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM
First Saturday of the Month – 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
…or by appointment
There is no fee for group tours, however, donations are welcome.
Maximum tour capacity: 50.
Meeting Space
The Urban Options Demonstration House provides a great environment to conduct meetings. Rooms are often available for meetings of up to 30 people. Municipal parking is available within close proximity to the Demonstration House.
Meeting Space Rates:
$50.00 – Half-day/evening
$100.00 – Full-day
Non-profit rates available
Rates include the use of an adjoining kitchen
Other Services
Various additional services can also be arranged through Urban Options. Please contact us and ask for details.
Fee: General hourly rate: $40.
Contact Persons
| Service | Contact |
| School Programs | Jim Meyerle |
| Group Tours & Seminars | Noelle Hartner |
| Energy Services | Jim Meyerle |
| Meeting Rooms | Noelle Hartner |
* No-Risk Guarantee: all fees refunded if not satisfied.
** Mileage charges are $.32 per mile beyond 30 miles round trip.