Green Realtor

Palm Springs Green Realtor – Eco-Friendly Realtor – Eco-Broker Certified

Hello and thank you for visiting my website. I took the EcoBroker course because I feel that real estate is just on the brink of becoming more “green”. There are many contractors who are implementing green construction, and those who are not, really should start to pay attention to the importance of energy efficient homes. There is much a home buyer can do in order to make their homes more energy efficient, and the beauty of that is saving money down the road on energy costs.

There are certain things we can all do in order to create a greener lifestyle and to minimize our carbon footprint. Here are just a few ideas…

Leave the Car at Home – We all need more exercise anyway, right? For short trips either walk or ride a bike. There’s always public transportation too. For each gallon of gas not used, you are saving the environment from 20 pounds of carbon dioxide.
Slow DOWN! Heavy breaking and quick acceleration can reduce fuel economy by 33% according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
No Need to “Warm Up” – most of us grew up believing that the car needed to “warm up” before you got on your way. Any car built after 1990 doesn’t need to warm up so GO and get on your way!
Inflate the Tires – For every pound of pressure you are under, the gas mileage is lowered about 4%. Keep all four tires at their required pressure for maximum gas mileage.
Double Pained Windows Make a Huge Impact! According to the DOE the average families annual home energy costs are about $1300. (Not in Palm Springs!!!) If your windows are allowing air in or out some money is being wasted to either cool or heat your house. Although they can be costly, if you live in a “severe weather area” like I do, they will pay for themselves in no time. Double pained windows are 40% more energy efficient than standard windows which equates to a 10%-25% saving on your cooling/heating bill.
Caulking and Weather Stripping – Although Double Pained windows are expensive, you can still improve insulation by sealing up gaps and leaks with caulk and weather stripping. Keep the cool or hot air in! You’re paying for it!
Check out the Ducts – You need to check the ducts for air leaks. Look to see if there are obvious holes and also to see if once joined sections have separated. Faulty duct work can cause serious carbon monoxide problems which we all know is really bad! You should use heat approved tapes like butyl tape, foil tape or mastic. In order to prevent moisture build up be sure that a well sealed vapor barrier is present on the outside of the insulation of cooling ducts.
Install Ceiling Fans – Ceiling fans use much less energy than does the air conditioner. Ceiling fans allow you to turn down he AC while still circulating cool air.
Plant Trees – Trees help to provide shade to your home which is nice, especially in the summer. The shade from trees can help keep your home cooler thus will save on your energy bill. Trees also help to minimize carbon dioxide, which is always a good thing!
Stabilize the Thermostat – You shouldn’t be uncomfortable in your own house, but keep it was warm as you can stand it in the summer months and then don’t put it higher than 65 in the winter. Get a sweater or a cozy blanket to save energy.
Try to Avoid Plastic Containers and Wrap – Plastic is made from Petroleum and is difficult to recycle. It also tends to allow harmful chemicals into food. It’s best to use glass or ceramic containers and recycled foil or wax paper.
Get the Non-Disposable Water Container Already! Plastic water bottles are creating havoc with our environment. Yes, they can be recycled but the massive problem they are creating can be easily remedied by purchasing a steel or aluminum water bottle which can be used over and over again.
Invest in a Couple of Canvas Tote Bags – Who needs to be wasteful when you can simply bring your own bag? It’s easy. Do IT!
Organic Cotton Clothing is the Way to Go – Did you know 25% of global insecticide use comes from conventional cotton production? Purchasing one organic cotton tee shirt instead of a convention cotton tee shirt keeps 1/3 of a pound of chemicals (fertilizers and pesticides) out of the water, land and air, according to the Organic Trade Association.
Say “NO” to Meat Just One Day a Week – For every 1000 people who cut out one beef meal a week we’d save over 700,000 pounds of grain, 700,000 pounds of topsoil and 40 million gallons of water each year according to the New Dream Foundation.
Switch Your Light Bulbs – Switch to light emitting diodes (LEDs – best) or compact fluorescent lights (CFLs – still contain mercury) can drastically reduce energy use and emissions. Electricity is the largest source of US carbon emissions, claiming about 38% of the responsibility, so a switch to these more efficient light bulbs is a switch in the right direction.
Unplug and Turn Off Electrical Devices – Research conducted by the DOE shows that in the average American home, 75% of electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off. That’s crazy! Unplug these items when not in use.
Invest in Energy Star Whenever Possible! There are Energy Star versions of almost every appliance ranging from washers and dryers to refrigerators to computers and printers. This rating is critical as the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) requires certain standards from these manufacturing companies. Always choose the ENERGY STAR versions as these qualified products can cut energy use by 30%.
Take Shorter Showers! I know… I know…. Sometimes it’s nice to languish in the hot steamy water but try to be conscientious about how much time you’re spending in there. Just cutting your time in the shower by one or two minutes can save up to 700 gallons of water per month.
On That Note…. If it takes a while for your hot water to heat up, use a bucket to save the cold water. You can water some house plants or your garden with what would have been “water down the drain”.
Use Appropriate Plants for Landscaping – Using native plants when designing your landscaping will save a ton of water. Native plants are acclimated to the amount of water naturally present in the area and can reduce residential water usage by 20-50%.
Wash Only Full Loads – Weather it’s the washing machine or the dishwasher, always wait until you have a full load. According to the EPA’s WaterSense study, washing only full loads saves 300-800 gallons of water per month.
Don’t Pre Rinse Dishes – Scraping food from plates before placing them in the dishwasher can save 25 gallons per load according to the EPA.
RECYCLE!! – By reducing your garbage by 25% you will reduce CO2 emissions by 1000 pounds per year. In addition to keeping waste out of landfills, recycling also saves energy. Our current recycling efforts save 1.48 quadrillion BTUs (equivalent to 11.9 billion gallons of gas) according to EPA estimates.
Trick the Toilet Tank – Place a full, plastic water bottle in the toilet tank. By displacing water this way you can save 5 – 10 gallons a day. That can be as much as 300 gallons a month or more for larger families.
Insulate! – Gaps or inefficient insulation will cost a lot in wasted energy. Check out the DOE’s Energy and Efficiency and Renewable Energy site for a printable home energy audit, check you home for cracks and install adequate insulation. You will experience lower energy bills and you could receive federal tax credits to the tune of about $500 over a two year period.
Ditch the Junk Mail – Bulk mail is accountable for 5.2 million tons of waste each year in the US! That’s 100 million trees that could be removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere being cut down to produce all of this junk mail. To stop junk mail from arriving in your mail box, sign up with the New American Dream (www.newdream.org/) to be removed from junk mail lists.