It’s Easy to Live GREEN

• Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth. You’ll save up to 8 gallons of water a day, and up to 240 gallons each month.
• Cut your water use in half by replacing old shower heads. Older high-flow or unrestricted shower heads can use more than 5 gallons of water per minute – that’s up to 50 gallons for a 10 minute shower!
• Replace older toilets with WaterSense toilets. Save up to 4,000 gallons of water a year.
• Check for and repair leaks inside and outside your home. Faucet drips, running toilets, broken sprinkler heads. Replace the toilet flapper every few years.
• Check irrigation drip lines and sprinklers for breaks, clogs or broken heads. Flush drip lines and filters at least twice a year.
• Install Energy efficient appliances: dishwasher, washing machine.
• Throw in the towel and take your vehicle to a Water Smart car wash and save up to 70 gallons.

Energy smart

• Switch to light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs.
• Dimmer controls, automatic timers and motion sensors can reduce energy consumption.
• Unplug appliances when not in use.
• Turn off exhaust fans as soon as possible to reduce the amount of heated or cooled air lost through vents.
• Close the damper on your fireplace (as local code allows) and glass doors when not in use.
• Check around doors and windows for leaks and drafts. Add weather stripping and caulk. A 1/8-inch crack around a door is like having a six-inch hole in the wall.
• Install foam gaskets behind electrical switch plates.
• Replace air filters monthly.
• Install programmable thermostat.
• Ceiling fans can distribute air depending on the season up or down.
• Install solar heating.

Interior design

• Consider the homes orientation to the sun when considering window treatments.
• Use low volatile organic compound (VOC) products to reduce air pollution.
• Consider bamboo flooring products.
• Use cabinets with sustainable harvested wood.
• Install a radiant barrier roof.
• Purchase energy-efficient appliances, heating/cooling system and lighting fixtures.

Landscape design

• Buy and install native plants.
• Use permeable pavers instead of concrete walkways.
• Incorporate storm water runoff into landscape design.
• Create a backyard compost to enrich the soil naturally.
• Install bubble-drip irrigation system.

Shopping smart

• Buy organic fruits and vegetables that contain fewer pesticides.
• Buy recyclable products and containers.
• Switch to clothing made of natural fabrics such as cotton.
• Support shopping establishments that utilize skylights and other forms of energy efficiencies.
• Use a durable-reusable shopping bag instead of plastic or paper.
• Consider a hybrid vehicle.

And when shopping for a real estate agent, choose a professional who understands how “GREEN” is fundamentally altering real estate dynamics.
 

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