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Tip
#1 –
Turn
off
the
lights
when
not
needed,
even
as
you
go
from
room
to
room
in
the
course
of
your
day
(or
evening)
According
to
ENERGY
STAR,
as
much
as
20
percent
of a
home’s
energy
use
comes
from
light
bulbs.
Using
a
compact
fluorescent
light
bulb
(CFL)
requires
about
75
percent
less
energy
than
incandescent,
but
lights
that
are
turned
off
save
the
most
energy
of
all.
Tip
#2
–
Wash
clothes
in
cold
water
(and
honestly,
the
new
cold-water
detergents
do
the
job
just
fine)
According
to
the
US
Department
of
Energy,
a
washing
machine
uses
up
to
90
percent
of
its
energy
to
simply
heat
the
water
in a
laundry
load,
and
the
higher
the
temperature,
the
greater
the
cost
to
you
and
the
environment.
Keeping
your
cool
will
save
energy
and
make
your
clothes
last
longer,
by
using
cold
water.
Tip
#3
–
Clean
the
lint
filter
in
your
gas
or
electric
clothes
dryer,
to
realize
big
savings.
Tests
have
shown
that
keeping
the
lint
trap
clean
may
provide
savings
of
up
to
$34
in
energy
costs
each
year
(ENERGY
STAR).
Tip
#4 –
Better
yet,
use
a
clothesline
or
clothes
‘tree’
and
keep
the
dryer
shut
off.
An
outdoor
clothesline
costs
only
a
few
dollars.
You
might
also
want
to
consider
buying
an
indoor
drying
rack,
so
you
can
keep
up
your
energy
efficient
ways
even
when
it’s
raining.
Tip
#5 –
Some
local
utilities
now
have
low-impact
hydro-electric
windmills
and
solar
farms
contributing
‘green
energy’
to
their
grid.
Find
out
if
your
local
utility
has
such
a
program
and
ask
if
they
give
a
discount
for
purchasing
power
from
these
‘green’
generators.
Tied
with
this
is
doing
your
laundry
and
other
energy-intensive
activity
in
mid-day
or
late
evening,
when
demands
on
the
grid
are
less.
Tip
#6
–
Isolate
your
fridge,
for
its
own
good
If
your
fridge
is
beside
a
vent,
stove
or
dishwasher
(which
give
off
a
lot
of
heat)
your
fridge
will
have
to
work
hard
and
use
more
energy
to
keep
its
cool.
If
possible,
keep
the
fridge
isolated
and
reap
the
financial
rewards.
Tip
#7 –
Forego
cleaning
products
for
plain
old
hot
water
and
white
vinegar
–
the
ultimate
green
living
product.
If
you
need
something
more
powerful,
most
department
stores
now
carry
lines
of
easily
identifiable
environmentally
friendly
cleaning
products
that
are
less
toxic
and
come
in
recyclable
packaging.
Tip
#8 –
Make
the
green
grass
of
home
a
hardy
perennial
Perennial
ryegrass
and
drought-tolerant
fescue
are
grass
types
that
need
less
watering
and
chemical
care.
Use
a
healthy
layer
of
mulch
to
reduce
weed
growth,
retain
moisture
in
the
soil
and
keep
roots
cool,
which
again
lessens
the
strain
on
the
community’s
water
supplies.
And
don’t
mind
the
beneficial
bugs,
birds,
frogs
and
toads
that
might
make
your
backyard
their
home
as a
result.
Tip
#9 –
Buy
biodegradable
pots
for
your
home
and
garden
Buying
plants
already
potted
in
bridgeable
materials,
like
bamboo,
coconut,
rice
or
wheat
fiber,
rather
than
plastic,
will
eliminate
another
step
in
the
recycling
process.
Tip
#10 –
Whether
it’s
bedding,
furniture,
flooring
or
wall
and
window
coverings,
shop
green
and
leave
the
plastics
behind
Draperies,
window
blinds,
and
shades
are
all
now
available
in
natural
fibers
such
as
cotton,
hemp,
linen,
wood,
reeds,
silk
or
bamboo.
Upholstered
furniture
containing
silk,
wool,
latex
or
natural
rubber
are
emerging,
as
are
sofas
and
chairs
stuffed
with
a
foam
product
made
from
soybeans.
In
this
manner,
we
can
eliminate
the
need
for
petroleum-based
foam
stuffing
in
our
houses,
saving
thousands
of
barrels
of
crude
oil
in
the
process.
Additionally,
ask
for
‘reclaimed
wood’
in
new
flooring
or
furniture.
Reclaimed
and
recycled
wood
from
salvaged
timbers
found
in
old
barns,
homes,
bridges
and
even
sunk
at
the
bottom
of
our
creeks
and
rivers
can
also
be
used
to
reduce
chemically-treated
wood
for
floors,
furniture
and
construction
supports.
Contact
Me
I can help you with every
aspect of buying or selling your home because I’m
experienced, because I am a Better Homes and Gardens
Rand Realty Real Estate Professional . . .and because I
care.
As
your
Better
Homes
and
Gardens
Rand
Realty
Sales
Professional,
I
will
provide
you
with
the
information
you
need
to
make
an
educated
decision.
The relationship between a home buyer or seller and their agent is based on trust, shared goals and understanding. I strive to continually improve and to do this I listen and take the needs and wants into consideration.
For assistance with any of your real estate needs, please contact me, whether it's to get started on helping you realize your goals and dreams, or just to ask a question - no pressure, no hassle, no obligation - just a friendly conversation. I would welcome the opportunity to make a difference for you. |
