A roundup of energy efficiency news, features and happenings from the U.S.

One State Offers Home Loans for Energy Efficiency
A new program provides financial help for people buying homes that are energy efficient only you have to live in Maine to get that help for now. It’s called energy star mortgages and provides home loans to people with low to moderate incomes on houses that save energy. Those savings have to be at least 20 percent and people can also get loans to weatherize their homes. The loans are also offered at low interest rates of just 4 percent. Maine was chosen to be the first state to use the loans because of energy programs it already has in place…
http://www.wnct.com/nct/news/national/article/one_state_offers_home_loans_for_energy_efficiency/32202/

Making the Most of Residential Energy Efficiency Federal Tax Credits Included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
The newly reinstated federal tax credits for residential energy efficiency makes 2009 the perfect time for American homeowners to evaluate their homes. As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), which was signed into law on Feb. 18, 2009, homeowners can receive up to $1500 in tax credits for investments in insulation, exterior doors and windows…
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/02-23-2009/0004976885&EDATE=

Low Impact Living: How the Stimulus Bill Can Help Green Your Home
In addition to tax breaks, the stimulus plan lets you get government rebates for buying Energy Star rated appliances.  About $300 million will be given out via these eco-rebates through state-run programs. Check with your state in the coming months to see how you can take advantage of these rebates…
http://sustainablog.org/2009/02/23/low-impact-living-how-the-stimulus-bill-can-help-green-your-home/

Dell Children’s First LEED Hospital in World
Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas recently became the first hospital in the world to receive the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum Certification…
http://earth911.com/blog/2009/01/23/dell-childrens-first-leed-hospital-in-world/

Green Restaurant Chains
There was an interesting article last week in Nation’s Restaurant News about restaurant chains continuing their green efforts despite the challenges posed by the economy.  According to the article, several quick-service chains are moving toward more eco-friendly operations and facilities. These chains include Arby’s, Carl’s Jr., Chipotle Mexican Grill and Subway…
http://dandunlop.wordpress.com/2009/02/23/green-restaurant-chains/

Sealy adopts green policies
Sealy officials say they are doing their part to reduce the company’s environmental impact, with new policies designed to reduce waste in manufacturing and decrease greenhouse gas emissions. The bedding leader said it is recycling raw materials and is improving driver policies and truck technologies to reduce waste and cut greenhouse gas emissions…
http://www.furnituretoday.com/article/179717-Sealy_adopts_green_policies.php

Starbucks Coffee Now LEED-Certified
Today we bring you news out of Starbucks that can only deepen your complex love/hate relationship with the ubiquitous brand and its efforts to simultaneously take over the world and make it a better place to live. The company has just opened a state-of-the-art roasting plant in Calhoun County, South Carolina. Dear reader, it is LEED Silver-certified. While the plant supplies coffee only to Starbucks stores in the southeastern U.S., it’s part of the company’s goal to reduce its environmental footprint by 2015…
http://www.mediabistro.com/unbeige/news/starbucks_coffee_now_leedcertified_109415.asp

Home Energy: Why Is There a Need to Improve It?
With all the talk of renewable energy and energy efficiency in the news these days it seems to me that having an energy efficient home is the way to go…
http://greenbuildingelements.com/2009/02/23/home-energy-why-is-there-a-need-to-improve-it/