Expert: Lemelia Bonner - 6/6/2004

Question
We are thinking of building some type of super efficent house. My wife said someone told her that we could get money towards this kind of house or some type of grant. She doesn't remember any details weather it is because efficency or experimental or what or even where she heard it. Do you know anything like this?  

Answer
Hi, George
There have been grants available from time to time for energy-efficient housing.  But I am not aware of any that are made to individuals, unless they are for retrofitting of existing homes.  And even these have to be obtained through various local or state programs which administer the funds.  To find out more, I would suggest you first visit the HUD.gov website and follow their links to get info on programs in your area.  You might also check into one of the recent Matthew Lesko books on finding government money for various purposes, but my recommendation is that you try to look through one at your local library rather than purchasing one.  Most if the info in these books will be totally irrelevant to you and a waste of money, in my opinion.

Lemelia B.