it's all about Eco-frendly, let do our part.
Thank you REALTOR.ORG/realtormag
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Earth MONTH April
April is Earth Month, so let’s make the effort to go a little more “green.” Here are some simple tips to do your part in keeping the environmental healthy and waste-free:
1. GO Paperless - As a Phoenix realtor the paperwork is amazing.
Not only are you helping to reduce paper waste, but many people report being more organized and timely in their bill paying when they say no to a mailed paper bills, and request to only receive bank statements and bills via email. When you receive your bills in your email, make those payments online and you also save yourself the postage cost.
2. Energy Upgrades - It might cost more than those new granite counter tops, and it certainly not as fun, but investing in energy upgrades is starting to pay off, now that federal tax credits are back in 2009 (and available til 2016) on installing energy-efficient systems in your home. Solar is the big winner 30 percent of the cost of qualified systems is a tax break. See www.energystar.gov for more information about this.
3. Stop With the Water Bottles - If you drink lots of water (like you should be doing!) opt for a reusable water bottle rather than using up dozens of disposable plastic bottles. Some work places are banning plastic waster bottles and insisting that employees use reusable bottles that they can fill up with filtered water or water from the water cooler. There are some absolutely adorable waster bottles out there, so you’ll look good while reducing your carbon footprint. See www.nalgenechoice.com for cute bottle options.
1. GO Paperless - As a Phoenix realtor the paperwork is amazing.
Not only are you helping to reduce paper waste, but many people report being more organized and timely in their bill paying when they say no to a mailed paper bills, and request to only receive bank statements and bills via email. When you receive your bills in your email, make those payments online and you also save yourself the postage cost.
2. Energy Upgrades - It might cost more than those new granite counter tops, and it certainly not as fun, but investing in energy upgrades is starting to pay off, now that federal tax credits are back in 2009 (and available til 2016) on installing energy-efficient systems in your home. Solar is the big winner 30 percent of the cost of qualified systems is a tax break. See www.energystar.gov for more information about this.
3. Stop With the Water Bottles - If you drink lots of water (like you should be doing!) opt for a reusable water bottle rather than using up dozens of disposable plastic bottles. Some work places are banning plastic waster bottles and insisting that employees use reusable bottles that they can fill up with filtered water or water from the water cooler. There are some absolutely adorable waster bottles out there, so you’ll look good while reducing your carbon footprint. See www.nalgenechoice.com for cute bottle options.
Paper or Plastic - NEITHER.
When I go grocery shopping, farmers market I bring my reusable bag along. It's good for lightweight objects, and it's nice and sturdy. If you don't like carrying all the same color go to different stores and get different colors. It's fun to try to collect them all! Trader Joe has a great selection and Sprouts has a bright green bag. Something so small as using your own bag does have an impact.
Half Price Books=green
Walmart=black, blue
Kroger=blue
Target=red and white
Tom Thumb=pink and black
Small Steps can lead to BIG Impact !!!
Check out this GREAT web-site I found Welcome to Layz Green People..
and make your pledge....
and make your pledge....
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Arizona Solar Power Society conference focuses on ways to get funding for energy efficiency
The Arizona Solar Power Society is holding a conference April 16 to help businesses and individuals tap into stimulus money and other funding for energy-efficiency programs.
The conference, beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the Desert Willow Conference Center in Phoenix, focuses on more than $240 million available for energy-efficiency programs throughout the state.
Some of that money comes from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. Roughly $63 million is available through the U.S. Department of Energy’s energy efficiency and conservation block grants, and $112 million is available from the state for weatherization.
“There has never been a better time for consumers and businesses to reduce their energy consumption via home and business energy-efficiency upgrades,” said Jeff Schlegel, Arizona representative for the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, a public interest organization.
About $65 million is available through utility company programs.
“Smart choices based on overall energy efficiency and total carbon footprint will benefit all Arizonans and can make us the model for the rest of the nation,” said Don Soderberg, vice president for external affairs at Southwest Gas Corp.
The conference, beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the Desert Willow Conference Center in Phoenix, focuses on more than $240 million available for energy-efficiency programs throughout the state.
Some of that money comes from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. Roughly $63 million is available through the U.S. Department of Energy’s energy efficiency and conservation block grants, and $112 million is available from the state for weatherization.
“There has never been a better time for consumers and businesses to reduce their energy consumption via home and business energy-efficiency upgrades,” said Jeff Schlegel, Arizona representative for the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, a public interest organization.
About $65 million is available through utility company programs.
“Smart choices based on overall energy efficiency and total carbon footprint will benefit all Arizonans and can make us the model for the rest of the nation,” said Don Soderberg, vice president for external affairs at Southwest Gas Corp.
Ways to Go Green in the Kitchen
1. Drink Clean
Filter contaminants such as lead and chloroform, along with the taste of chlorine, from your tap water with a water-filtering pitcher or a faucet-mounted system. You'll also save money over buying bottled water, and the energy used -- and the pollution created -- to produce, ship, and dispose of all those plastic containers. Try the Brita Deluxe Pitcher (shown; Target.com, $24.99). Other models include the PUR Ultimate and the Shaklee Perfect pitchers. Faucet-mounted filters ($20 to $60 at home centers) are easy to install; they simply screw onto the faucet, and a valve lets you choose to bypass the filter (for example, when washing dishes).
2.Slow the Flow
Attach a low-flow aerator to your kitchen faucet to mix air into the stream and cut water usage without affecting pressure. Find aerators at hardware stores and home centers for under $10. Look for one with a flow rate of 2.2 gallons per minute or less, saving from 1.4 to 2.7 gallons each day.
3. Work Your Dishwasher
No need to feel guilty about running your dishwasher; it actually uses less water than doing dishes by hand. Run it only when full and use the most efficient setting -- light rather than heavy wash and air dry instead of heat. Don't bother to pre-rinse before loading. Tests by the Consumers Union show that rinsing is unnecessary and wastes up to 20 gallons of water per load
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