Latest Green News

Water Conservation in the Home

Save money and water with these simple and easy tips

In the U.S. alone, over 410 billion gallons of water is used every day. The average household uses about 350 gallons daily, adding up to over 120,000 gallons a year. Not only does this high water usage deplete our global water supply, it costs [...]

Energy Efficient Mortgages

Energy efficient mortgages are a great way to create long term savings on your monthly bills while adding to the value of the home

Energy-efficient mortgages are one of the most beneficial and under-utilized programs the consumer can find and capitalize upon in today’s real estate market. An energy-efficient mortgage can add an additional [...]

What Is the HERS Index?

Shawn Mullins of Earthwise Engineering in Phoenix, AZ conducting a blower door test as part of an energy audit.

The HERS Index is a scoring system developed by the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET). The index was developed as a part of the overall home energy rating system in order to develop a standard [...]

An Energy Auditors Top Efficiency Recommendations for Homes in Phoenix

While no two houses are the same, Phoenix’s housing stock does have similar construction traits and installation practices that are often the cause of high energy bills, temperature differences within rooms and poor indoor air quality. In this blog series I would like to highlight some of the most common construction defects I find and [...]

What Is My Carbon Footprint?

There are many simple and easy ways to reduce your carbon footprint.

Your carbon footprint is the measure of your total impact on the environment and, more specifically, climate change. Your footprint represents the amount of greenhouse gases you produce through use of transportation, heat and electricity (primary footprint), as well as the manufacturing [...]

Green Home Certifications

Certified green homes are designed to save money, increase efficiency, and promote a healthy home.

Over the last decade, home buyers have seen a proliferation of green home certifications that provide them with a variety of green choices when buying a home. Most green home certifications are national programs though many cities and regions [...]

Alternative to Pesticides in the Home – Integrated Pest Management

Integrated pest management offers concerned home owners ways to reduce or eliminate the need for pesticides in the home.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an effective and environmentally sensitive alternative to pesticide use. Pesticides, as defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), are “any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, [...]

Passive Solar Design 101

Passive solar design takes advantage of the low sun angle during the winter months while blocking the intense heat from a high angle sun during the summer.

When building a new home, orienting it to take advantage of passive solar heat can help save a great deal of money off of your annual heating [...]

LED Lights – The CFL Alternative

LED lights are one of the most efficient forms of lighting used in homes today.

Recent changes to the laws are phasing out the use of incandescent light bulbs.  Many consumers are turning to compact fluorescent light bulbs as a cheap and efficient alternative to the traditional light bulb.  Another option consumers have is to use LED bulbs instead.

The light emitting diode (LED) is a relatively new light source that differs in important ways from existing light sources. LEDs differ from traditional light sources in the way they produce light. This difference in light production allowed LEDs to be better soon for certain applications currently and be even more widely adapted in the future.

The standard lighting efficiency measurement is determined on the basis of luminous efficacy. This is the measure of lumens per watt (lm/W), meaning the amount of light produced for each watt of electricity used by the light source. In this category current LED technologies are on par with compact fluorescent bulbs for residential and small scale commercial uses. However, the future of LED technology has left the door open for a vast amount of improvement to occur in this measurement of energy efficiency. Although luminous efficacy is an important indicator of energy efficiency, it doesn’t tell the whole story, particularly with regard to directional light sources. Due to the directional properties of their light emission, LEDs potentially have higher application efficiency than other light sources in certain applications. Fluorescent and incandescent bulbs emit light in all directions. This emission of light in all directions causes a large amount of light to be lost inside the fixture, may cause the light to escape in a direction that is not useful for the intended application, and typically requires a reflective component that aims light in the direction desired. LEDs emit light in a specific direction, thus reducing the need for reflectors and diffusers that can trap light, so well designed fixtures can deliver light more efficiently to the intended location or for the intended application. This directional limitation is a benefit in certain applications, but is holding back the technology from being implemented in situations where 360 degree emission is desired, such as in lamps.

LED lighting was once relegated to use in scoreboards, cell phone consoles, traffic lights, flash lights, and Christmas lights. As a result of rapid development of the technology which is still ongoing today the application for this technology has expanded and can now be seen applied on streets, in buildings, in homes, and in offices. One area where the technology is currently leading the field in energy efficient options is recessed lighting, both residential and commercial applications. With the directional constraints of LEDs and the low levels of heat emission, recessed ceiling fixtures match up well with LED technological limits and advantages to create the optimal lighting option for a specific application. As LED technology continues to develop costs are only going to be driven lower, lifetimes of bulbs are going to be driven higher, and the overall energy efficiency and cost benefits of the technology are going to be greatly increased.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy the energy efficiency of LEDs is expected to rival the most efficient white light sources by 2010. One of the most attractive features of LEDs is their potentially very long life. Depending on LED quality, system design, operating environment, and other factors LEDs can last up to 50,000 hours or even 100,000 hours. Homeowners may balk at the high initial costs of these bulbs, which experts say currently take 5 to 10 years to recoup in electricity savings, but as the technology develops further these high initial costs will come down considerably making LEDs an even more attractive energy saving technology.

LED technology is at a point where it is an energy efficient option when it comes to specific lighting needs. A lot of room for development in this technology point to lower cost, more efficient, and longer lasting designs in the future which will help to expand the applications for which LED technology is best fit. Some poorly designed and constructed LEDs have showed signs of deterioration over the life of the bulb including flickering of light, shift in color of light, dimming of light, and poor thermal properties, producing more heat than initially promised by the product.

Installation of LED lights is fairly simple. Depending on the desired application of LED fixtures some projects may be completed as easily as changing out a bulb, while some tasks may require the help of a professional electrician to properly install the desired lighting system.

Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFL) – The New Reality in Lighting

Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL's) provide an efficient and cheap alternative to incandescent light bulbs

With the upcoming mandates for energy efficient lighting, I thought I would spend a moment to talk about the advantages and disadvantages to the highly efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs.

Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) are designed to use up to 75% less energy than incandescent light bulbs while offering the same amount of light. They work by passing an electrical current through a mixture of argon and mercury which then emits ultraviolet light. This UV light excites a fluorescent coating that then emits the visible light we are able to see. Because of this technology, CFL bulbs require fewer watts of energy than incandescent bulbs to operate at the same luminosity. For example, a 40-watt incandescent bulb emits the same amount of light as an 11-14 watt CFL. The lifespan of a CFL varies depending on how frequently it is turned on/off and how much air flow is around the bulb, but on average, they last 6,000-15,000 hours (about ten times as long as incandescent bulbs).

CFLs come in a variety of shapes and styles. The most popular style is the spiral CFL, but if you are looking to replace bulbs that will be visible or simply don’t like the look of the spiral bulb, there are A-shape and globe options available as well. CFLs also come in 3-way and dimmable forms.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, if every home in America were to replace just one incandescent bulb with an Energy Star rated CFL, we would be able to collectively save $700 million in energy costs while preventing 9 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions every year. That’s the equivalent of 800,000 cars!

While CFLs are slightly more to purchase than incandescent bulbs ($2-15 as opposed to $0.25-$5), they can save as much as $30 over the life of the bulb in reduced energy costs. The average payback period is six months.

Because CFLs contain trace amounts of mercury (about 4 mg per bulb), it is important to take precautions when handling them. When installing, be sure and hold the base not the glass to screw them in to prevent breaking. If a bulb does break, follow the EPA’s guidelines for proper clean-up to avoid negative effects. When a CFL bulb burns out, it must be recycled at a designated recycling center. For a list of recycling
locations near you, visit www.earth911.com. Note that no mercury is emitted unless the bulb breaks. Regular use will not result in exposure to
mercury.

Most photocells, motion sensors, electronic timers, and some sockets are incompatible with CFLs. Be sure and check manufacturing and packaging labels before purchasing.

Replacing your incandescent bulbs with CFLs is one of the easiest ways to save energy. CFLs are available at most home improvement stores and general retailers and can easily be installed without the help of a professional. Remember to hold the bulb by the base and not the glass when installing.

The Dangers of Asbestos in a Home

Asbestos can be a hazardous substance that can be found in many homes throughout the US.

Asbestos is a small mineral fiber that was commonly used to strengthen materials and make them fire retardant. If asbestos fibers become airborne, they can be inhaled and settle into the lungs, creating respiratory problems. It is important to recognize the areas in your home where asbestos may be found and have any damaged or disturbed materials professionally treated. Common products that may contain asbestos include insulation, shingles, flooring, and car parts such as brake pads and gaskets. The EPA and CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) passed a ban in the last few decades prohibiting use in certain household products and requiring a label be put on any products that do contain asbestos. Because of this, the prevalence of the harmful material in homes has been greatly reduced. Visit the EPA’s page on Asbestos in the Home at http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/ashome.html for a list of where asbestos can be found and when it can be a problem.

Asbestos removal is usually a relatively expensive process, depending on the contractor’s rates. It is estimated that complete removal from a 2000 square foot home can cost anywhere from $2000 to $4000 (Asbestos Removal Cost). Some contractors charge as little as a few hundred dollars depending on the size of the space, but some ask for significantly more depending on their minimum charge rate. Get bids from multiple contractors to help find the most affordable option available.

Asbestos removal has no direct cost benefits, but eliminating damaged asbestos materials can drastically improve your indoor air quality and prevent costly medical procedures in the future.

Asbestos is incredibly dangerous and, if damaged or handled improperly, can have major repercussions on your health. The asbestos fibers are easily inhaled and can settle in your lungs, causing respiratory problems that can lead to major diseases including lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma. Typically, these negative effects do not show up for 20 or 30 years after in initial exposure, making corrective medical procedures difficult and expensive due to the longevity of the asbestos fibers presence in the lungs. For more information on the health effects of asbestos, visit http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/help.html#health.

It is impossible to tell if a material contains asbestos unless it is clearly labeled or tested by a professional using a microscope. If you suspect that a material contains asbestos, treat it as if it does. If it is still in good condition and is in an area that is rarely or never disturbed, it is best to leave it alone. Inspect it periodically to check for damage, but typically materials in good condition do not release asbestos fibers. If a material appears damaged, hire a professional with documented asbestos training to remove it properly. It is not recommended that you attempt to remove it yourself because improper handling can worsen exposure and have negative effects on your health. Ask your removal expert about safety procedures and precautions before they start the job so you know how to keep your family safe. Mark work areas as hazardous to help give others warning. Whenever someone is working with damaged asbestos materials in or around your home, be sure it is wetted down first to prevent the fibers from floating into the air. Always use wet cleaning materials to clean up after removal as these will prevent the www.ecobroker.com · 1-800-706-4321 fibers from become airborne. Never dust, sweep, or vacuum around asbestos because this will just increase the amount of fibers circulating in the air. Make sure any removed material is put into sealed bags and disposed of properly.

There are two ways to temporarily block asbestos without removing it. Sealing the material by either binding the fibers together or covering it with a sealant helps keep the fibers out of the air. It can also be covered with a blanket or wrap to help prevent the asbestos from being released. Again, consult a professional when handling asbestos. It is not recommended that you try even these simple fixes on your own.

To help minimize damage to asbestos-containing materials, keep activity around them to a minimum. Take extra precautions to avoid damaging them in any way. Do not drill, saw, sand, or scrape any materials that may contain asbestos as this will launch a good deal of fibers directly into the air.

For information from the EPA on asbestos professionals and what to look for when hiring a contractor, visit http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/ashome.html.

How Can a Faucet Aerator Save Me Money?

Water aerators are a low cost way to save money and increase water efficiency in your home.

Faucet aerators are a simple, inexpensive way to reduce water usage without decreasing faucet pressure. Aerators are small screened cylinders that screw onto your existing faucet. When the water flows through them, it is mixed with air from the gaps in the screen. This helps maintain a high, consistent water pressure without letting as much water through.

Bathroom faucets without aerators use between two and four gallons of water per minute while faucets with aerators typically use less than one gallon per minute. Similarly, adding an aerator to your kitchen faucet can help decrease water flow from 3-5 gpm to 1.5 gpm. Some kitchen aerators even come with swivel heads to help maintain full kitchen functionality.

If you already have an aerator on your faucet, check its flow rate (this should be printed or engraved on the side). If the flow rate is greater than 2.75 gpm, replace it with a more efficient model.

Faucet aerators typically cost less than $10 and can be purchased at your local home improvement store. There are no installation costs as they simply screw on to the faucet and can easily be done without professional help. Installing aerators can help decrease daily per capita faucet water use by at least 13%, saving substantial money on water utility bills. They can also decrease hot water use by almost 11%, saving not only on water use but on water heating as well. This ends up saving about 1,700 gallons of household water use per year, 1,300 of which are hot water. (H2OUSE).

How Important is a Home’s Walk Score?

Walkability is the measure of how easy it is to walk from your home to grocery stores, shopping centers, restaurants, movie theatres, etc. The closer your home is to daily destinations, the better walkability it has. Walk Score is an online tool that determines how walkable your home is on a scale from 1-100 (1 being very car dependent and 100 being a “walker’s paradise”). A point is earned for every business of interest (grocery stores, coffee shops, movie theatres, schools, libraries, fitness centers, etc.) that is between .25 and 1 mile from the home and bonus points are earned for businesses closer than .25 miles away. To find your Walkscore, visit http://www.walkscore.com/ and type in your address.

Example Walk Score screenshot

Walkability is based on a series of factors influencing the ease of pedestrian transportation including the following:

• The presence of a neighborhood “center,” be it a park, main street, or other common gathering area.
• The number of people in the area allowing businesses to flourish.
• A mixed use that combines homes with businesses within close proximity to each other.
• The availability of parks and public space in the area.
• The effectiveness of the pedestrian design (sidewalks, crosswalks, etc.).
• The proximity to schools and businesses for homeowners to walk to.
• Complete street design including space for bikes, pedestrians, cars, and buses.

Neighborhoods that meet all of these criteria are generally more pedestrian-friendly and foster a culture of walking rather over driving.

Living in a home with a high walkability score is a benefit to personal and environmental health, finances, and community growth. Because walking is a cardiovascular activity, living in and taking advantage of a neighborhood that’s design encourages pedestrian transportation is a direct benefit to personal health, building up muscle mass and helping increase daily exercise. If you choose to walk instead of drive, you are also reducing the amount of pollution put into the air by automobiles, helping decrease greenhouse gases and create a cleaner atmosphere. Walking is also free and will decrease the amount of money you spend on gas, oil, and car maintenance every year. Finally, a walking culture encourages people to get out of the house and interact with others on the streets, be it their lifelong neighbors or the new family that moved in down the street. This increased level of community interaction can add to the charm and interest in an area and heighten neighborhood safety as a large number of pedestrians tends to minimize the presence of street crimes.

In addition to the money saved by walking instead of driving, having a home with a high Walk Score can help add between $4,000 and $34,000 to its total value. It is estimated that for every point above average that your home scores, up to $3000 can be added to its value. This creates a direct market value for walkable neighborhoods, increasing their presence and demand. (CEO for Cities).

When You Know It's Time To Take Up Golf...

Alison Levine has been lured by arresting mountains and snow capped peaks. Though she climbed Mt Kilimanjaro, trekked up Mt. Everest as team captain of the Ford sponsored American Women's' Everest Expedition, and cross country skied the arctic circle to the North Pole (her first time on cross country skis)- the “top of the world,” she considers “extreme sports” a relative term. As she says, “For some people it sort of conjures up visions of skiers flying off of huge drop-offs and ledges -- doing all kinds of things that ‘regular’ people don’t really do. I feel like many of the things I do are things that anyone with a desire to push themselves a bit could do. It’s just about getting out there and trying something new.” For Alison, anythi... Read the full story on Planet Green

Traveling for the Holidays? Do These Quickie Workouts to NOT Gain Weight

I’m the first to admit that an out-of-town attitude includes skipping out on my regular workout. But that’s the great thing! It's your opportunity to try something new, work new muscles, and maybe even LOSE, as opposed to GAIN weight! I know... the holidays can be brutal for your diet. You're too busy, tired, and full to do your entire regular workout routine. Instead, slip in several quickie workouts into your day, every day, to keep your metabolism stoked and naturally burning off even more calories for you. When it comes to holiday travel, immediately get your head in a fit mindset. Here's how: BURN CALORIES JUST GETTING THERE The surprising fact is that you start racking up calories burned even before you arrive to your destination. Yup, the hour it takes to pack (o... Read the full story on Planet Green

What is an EcoBroker®?

Ecobrokers are trained to assist home buyers and sellers optimize their green savings

As a Certified EcoBroker, I have put myself in a position to help green home sellers and home buyers to take advantage of the many benefits of living green.  I understand the benefits of energy-efficient and environmental features in homes, including better air quality, lower utility savings, and doing your part for the environment while being able to communicate the value of these features to prospective buyers.

Certified EcoBrokers® complete a detailed program that educates real estate professionals on topics such as energy efficiency, solar energy, indoor air quality, water quality, radon, and green building programs. The program trains students to effectively reach the green market and the average consumer who is interested in reducing their monthly utility bills and increasing home comfort and health while benefiting the environment at the same time.

As you know, there is a huge amount at stake. Homes account for approximately 22 percent of total U.S. energy consumption, 21 percent of carbon-dioxide emissions, and 9 percent of water use (according to the U.S. Green Building Council). According to a National Association of the Remodeling Industry survey, 46 percent of American homeowners claim they would be eager to incorporate green principles into their homes, especially if it would save them money. As a real estate professional and a Certified EcoBroker®, it is my job to inform buyers of these existing attributes in green homes, helping to educate the public, satisfy the client, and sell more homes with green features.

Why Work with an EcoBroker?

Buyer Benefits:

• Know more about the potential monthly savings or costs of a home: help you understand energy efficiency and the costs or savings associated with energy-efficient building components.
• Know more about indoor air quality and healthy environments: help you address environmental issues both interior and exterior.
• Consider building orientation and natural landscaping features: help you understand energy savings that can be derived from proper building orientation, overhangs, and placement of trees (for shading and windbreaks).
• Find homes with “green” features.   With interest in energy efficient, healthy, and safe home features.  An EcoBroker® can make it easy to find homes with these attributes or to help you make improvements!

Seller Benefits:

• Maximize the sale of your home: potential energy efficiency and environmental features can make the difference!
• Communicate the energy cost savings of your home: to help you get the best price for your property.
• Communicate to buyers the benefits of your property: highlight features of your home, including building orientation and landscaping features.
• Differentiate Your Listing: working with an EcoBroker® helps you market your property to the growing number of green-minded consumers and gets your listing the attention it deserves!  Distinguishing your home from the competition is ‘Key’.  Many home owners do not promote the energy efficiency and environmental attributes of their homes, missing a large market.
• Attract more buyers: Over 90% of buyers identify energy savings and home environment as key factors when deciding to buy a home.

What can you expect from your EcoBroker®?

Perspective on:

• Home comfort, safety, and durability
• Environmental issues
• Energy-efficiency
• The “green” market

5 Quick and Easy Christmas Ornaments You Can Make

Whether for gift tags, place markers, or for your own tree, homemade ornaments help make the holiday special. Want to make some of your own? Here are some ideas to inspire you. 1. Seashell Ornaments Hang beautiful shells with ribbon to remind you of summer. Seashells make beautiful ornaments, naturally! 2. Recycled Christmas Cards Last year's cards make this year's ornaments and gift tags! Glue images from your favorite cards onto wooden disks and add a ribbon tie. 3. Ornaments Made From Recycled Materials Be creative and reuse ... Read the full story on Planet Green

Book is a Hitchhiker's Guide to America

If you're familiar with the Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy, you may want to pick up "Redwood to Deadwood," a book by Colin Flaherty about hitchhiking across America. Hitchhiking? In this day and age? And living to tell about it? Now that's an adventure. That may be the cynical Detroiter in me (I grew up down there). Or maybe I've seen too many hitchhiker horror movies. According to author from Wilmington, Delaware: "Before I tucked my thumb in for the final time, I... Read the full story on Planet Green

10 Man Cave Must-Haves

Tune in to Born Dealers Saturdays at 10 pm! Find out more about the show and get a sneak peek. Written by Jeremiah Pasternak Guys don't decorate. They have stuff that they like and they fit it into whatever space they have, no matter how big or how small. Single guys have bachelor pads. If they want a motorcycle in the living room there's no one to tell them that they can't. Guys that are married or are living with their girlfriends generally don't have this freedom. If we're lucky, we get a room. Whether it be a garage or a basement, a large space or small, this is our place to fill with whatever we wan... Read the full story on Planet Green

Eco-Friendly Holiday Gift Wrap

Holiday gift giving doesn't have to mean giant trash bags full of discarded wrapping paper. Here are a few eco-friendly gift wrapping ideas to help make your holidays less wasteful. The best thing about these wrappings is that they're not only earth friendly, but can be reused year after year. 1. Fused Gift Bags Use this tutorial to make beautiful reusable gift bags out of old plastic bags. 2. Cloth Bags Perfect for little trinkets, these simple drawstring bags can be made from scraps of fabric. 3. Fabric Gift Wrap Fabric wraps w... Read the full story on Planet Green