“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors;
we borrow it from our children.”
—Native American Proverb


Dear Friend, 

One of the hottest trends in housing is creating a “green” home. In fact, in two places where Mother Nature has wiped the slate clean, green homes are all the rage. In the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans, actor Brad Pitt has headed the creation and donation of 150 new environmentally friendly houses that will be 75% more energy efficient. In Kansas, after being completely destroyed by a tornado, the ironically named town of Greensburg will be rebuilt as the nation’s first green town. 

Green homes save money by lowering energy bills and reducing a home’s impact on the environment. What may be even more important, however, is the pride of ownership involved in owning a green home and the positive effect it has on the community and the world. 

In this month’s Item of Value, I have created a guide to turning your home into a green machine.
Low-flow plumbing fixtures and compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) are great examples of easy changes that will benefit your pocketbook and the environment. You will find many more interesting tips like this as you read on. 

Did you know that swapping out one traditional light bulb for a CFL will reduce carbon emissions by 150 pounds a year? Doing your part for the environment is now as easy as changing a light bulb! 

Sincerely, 

Sheila Dodson
Associate Broker 

Oh, by the way…if you know of someone who would appreciate the level of service I provide, please call me with their name and business number, and I’ll be happy to follow up and take great care of them.
 

Going Saving Green 

Making your home more energy efficient is often as simple as pulling a plug—unplugging appliances when they are not in use can save $70 a year on your electricity bill. Read our tips for more easy ways you can save money and reduce your impact on the environment. 

Thermostats: Installing a programmable thermostat to keep air conditioning at 78°F when it’s hot outside and your heating system at 68° heating and cooling costs — or $100 a year on your energy bill. If every family in the United States did this, we would reduce carbon dioxide by more than 90 billion pounds. 

Water heaters: Water heating accounts for about 13% of home energy costs, so turn your water heater down to 120° or the “Normal” setting when home and to the lowest setting when away. Also consider wrapping your water heater in an insulated blanket. You’ll save 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. 

Light bulbs: According to climatecrisis.org, energy-saving compact florescent light bulbs (CFL) last 10 times longer than regular incandescent bulbs, use 60% less energy and can save 75% of lighting costs. If every American home replaced five incandescent bulbs with five CFL bulbs, we would save as much as $6.5 billion a year in electricity costs and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to that from more than eight million cars. 

Sprinklers: Use a sprinkler timer. Timers will automatically shut off your sprinkler system after a set period so you don’t have to remember. Also, use sprinklers that emit large drops of water, low and close to the ground (not the sidewalk or street), and water early in the morning. This will ensure that the water soaks into the soil instead of evaporating. 

Green energy: The decision to switch to green energy (wind or solar-powered) should be made on a cost-by-cost, region-by-region basis. CIBC World Markets reports that buying a solar system can yield homeowners a 6% return on their investment and take 16 years to pay off. Depending on the state you live in, you also may be eligible for a refund or other incentive when you use solar energy. Solar-powered garden lights recharge themselves every day, look stylish and can be repositioned any time you want! 

Here are some ways to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and help stop global warming. 

• Swapping out one incandescent light bulb with a CFL will save 150 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. 

• For every mile that you walk, bike or carpool, you will save one pound of carbon dioxide. 

• Recycling half of your home’s waste will save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide annually. 

• Properly inflated tires improve gas mileage by 3%, and every gallon of gasoline saved prevents 20 pounds of carbon dioxide waste. 

• Using less hot water reduces energy consumption. Installing a low-flow showerhead and washing your clothes in cold or warm water can save up to 850 pounds of carbon dioxide. 

• Adjusting your thermostat by 2 degrees in the winter and summer can save 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. 

• Planting trees reverses the effects of carbon dioxide. A single tree will absorb 1,200 pounds of carbon dioxide in its lifetime. 

Dream home, green home
One very green bedroom
1. Ceiling fans provide great air circulation and reduce summer air conditioning bills.
2. A Low-flow showerhead saves water.
3. Hardwood floors requre no vacuuming and consequently save electricity.
4. Shutters on doors and windows act as great insulators and add a stylish look to any room.
5. Using CFL-bulbs saves electricity and putting lights on timers also conserves energy when away.
6. Natural fibers on bedding make recycling easier when the time comes to redecorate. 

SAVE MONEY AND SAVE THE PLANET. 

Making your home more energy efficient is not only good for the environment — it’s good for your bank balance. ABC News reports that the average family spends nearly $2,000 a year on energy bills, and simply heating and cooling their homes accounts for half of that bill. Sealing your home’s “envelope”— ensuring that walls, floors, ceilings and the roof are well insulated—can save up to 10% on your annual energy bill and cut down on carbon dioxide emissions. 

Whether you’re remodeling your current home or designing a new one, you have a great opportunity to incorporate some green design principles into your space. 

Kitchen: Buy ENERGY STAR® qualified appliances and equipment —they’re up to 40% more efficient. 

Bathroom: Showers account for 32% of home water use, so consider installing a high efficiency or low-flow showerhead. Also, get those leaky fixtures repaired and save up to 20 gallons of water per day (or 200 gallons per day, if it’s a defective toilet). 

Carpet: According to Domino magazine, 4.7 billion pounds of carpet is dumped in landfills annually because its synthetic components can’t be recycled. What’s more, synthetic rugs and carpets can release harmful fumes in your home for weeks after installation. Try using carpets and rugs made from natural fibers, which can often be recycled. 

Wallpaper: Look for wallpaper made from fast-growing, renewable resources or recycled paper. It takes 70-90% less energy to make recycled paper and prevents deforestation
worldwide. 

Paint: When painting walls, make sure you buy just enough paint to eliminate waste. Use an online paint calculator (try www.artsparx.com/paintcalculator.html) to help determine the right amount for the job. 

Landscaping: Plant trees on the east and west side of your house to keep it cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The right tree in the right place can reduce the sun’s heat by 20 50%, and evergreen trees, shrubs and vines can offer natural insulation in the winter. For resources, go to www.gardeners.com and www.gardensalive.com 

Design materials: Avoid heavily packaged products to reduce waste and cut down on carbon emissions. Also, check into the products you’re buying for your home and see how eco-friendly they are. Try www.thedailygreen.com. 

150 MPG is near! 

GM has built muscle cars like the Corvette for years, but their newest passion is an electric car designed to deliver 150 mpg, named the Volt. The company plans to unveil the vehicle in 2010.
The car is designed to run 40 miles solely on electricity before a small gasoline engine kicks in to recharge the advanced lithium batteries. 

Think globally, buy locally 

Did you know that the average distance your food travels from farm to plate is nearly 1,500 miles? A huge amount of fossil fuel is used to transport foods such long distances, contributing to global climate change. Even the refrigeration required to keep your food from
spoiling consumes a significant amount of energy.
Consider buying from local farms. Local foods from small farms are fresher, undergo minimal processing and contain fewer preservatives than food shipped long distances. When you shop, remember to bring reusable bags to tote your purchases. Every year, Americans throw away 100 billion polyethylene plastic bags, and less than 1% of them are recycled. The bags take up to 1,000 years to dissolve; when they do, they leave dangerous toxins behind. Experts say the bags also kill millions of animals every year