Archive for June, 2007
June 27th, 2007
Green Real Estate and Lower Impact Moving
Stumble it!
It’s summer, so that means many of you are looking for homes and or planning a move. Sure we’d all love to have enough money to hire a snazzy architect and build the green home of our dreams. But we aren’t all so lucky (and if you are, congratulations!). Fortunately we don’t have to throw in the hemp towel. If you’re looking for new digs and want to go green, there are now a number of exciting eco-friendly real estate options popping up across the country for you to explore.
Typically moving is a major environmental hazard zone: wasted packing paper, discarded boxes and thousands of miles of smog belching truck driving. The average American move uses 100-120 pounds of cardboard and emits 5,000 pounds of carbon dioxide for a cross-country move or 500 pounds for an intra-state move. We’ll help you make your move more eco-friendly.
What is this green real estate of which you speak?
Well, it’s a wide spectrum. Some are new homes or condos built to include multiple sustainable elements, e.g. passive solar, state-of-the-art energy efficiency features, tankless water heaters, FSC certified wood for framing, double-pane windows, reclaimed wood flooring, and Energy Star appliances. Some are made with rammed earth, adobe or straw-bale construction techniques. And some homes are not new but have been retrofitted by their owners to include some eco-friendly elements (often solar panels, low-flow toilets, and native/low-water-use landscaping). So when you start looking at green real estate you’ll need to read the descriptions closely to see which elements are included. (If you are interested in building your own green home, please be sure to consult our listings of outstanding green architects and builders!)
How can I find green real estate?
There are a few good online resources, and now there is even a certification for green real estate professionals. EcoBroker is a program designed to help people find real estate that embraces energy efficiency and sustainable design. EcoBroker trains real estate agents in green building and home technologies and practices so that they can help buyers find green homes and help seller integrate and market green features in their homes to help them sell.
We have many great EcoBrockers listed on Low Impact Living — check them out here!
Here are a few examples of green homes currently being offered for sale.
Always dreamed of living in Santa Fe? Here’s your chance. EcoBrokers Janet Rubenstein and Robin Zollinger have a gorgeous green home on the market right now. This lovely energy-efficient (main house heated by true passive solar trombe walls), semi-rural property is a stone’s throw from town yet utterly private and serene. The property consists of a wonderful 2BR/2BA Northern New Mexico main house and a freestanding 1BR guest house on 1.6 acres in an established artist’s community in Rancho San Sebastian. It’s a gem! And be sure to visit Janet and Robin’s wonderful website, SantaFeGreenRealEstate.com. 
EcoBroker Signe Danler promotes green homes in the Mid-Willamette area of Oregon. Her company, Keller Williams Realty Mid-Willamette, represents the beautiful homes at Starlight Summit, new green-built homes in Philomath, Oregon. Nestled next to the Cascade foothills, these beautiful homes have valley and mountain views, and green features to make them easier on the environment. Just some of their green features include low VOC interior paints, carpets made of recycled PET (plastic bottles!), Mastic Sealed HVAC systems, water-saving shower heads, low-e windows, extra insulation, and much more. You can learn more about these wonderful homes and contact Signe by emailing her at sdanler@kw.com.
San Diego EcoBroker Jim Simcoe also has an outstanding ocean-view, eco-friendly condo for sale. In addition to being just gorgeous, the seller is offering some very innovative green incentives for a prospective buyer. The seller will give a credit to any buyer in order to install Energy Star appliances, replace the carpet with sustainable flooring, install double-pane efficient windows, paint the interior with low-VOC paint, and more. If you want to be green and live at the beach, catch a wave and you’re sittin’ on top of the world with this condo. Check it out here!
And there’s another great online resource to look for green real estate: the aptly named GreenHomesforSale.com. It has many properties across the US listed so browse to your green heart’s content.
Lower Impact Moving
A couple of months before your move, start hording your newspapers. You can use these for packing paper and then recycle it. You can also go to your local grocery store or electronics store and ask them for their discarded boxes– this will save you hundreds of dollars and will conserve precious paper resources. Then you can recycle the boxes when you’re done.
If you’re lucky enough to live in Southern California, you have another couple of great options. Go Green Moving, based in Irvine, will move you using their biodiesel powered trucks (how cool is that!?). They also partner with EarthFriendlyMoving, which rents moving boxes. Their Recopacks are sturdy boxes made from recycled plastic. You can rent boxes for ‘a buck a box a week’ and then they’ll pick them up when you’re finished.
And if you are getting rid of stuff during your move, please don’t forget to recycle or donate it! You can give things to your local Goodwill or you can give to a Habitat for Humanity local Restore. If you have any potentially hazardous waste, definitely find out how to dispose of it properly through your local city waste resources. You can find them here.
Good luck finding the green home of your dreams! Fortunately now you have some good resources to help you on your hunt. And when it comes time to move, please do try to use recycled and recyclable materials in the process- and then recycle your boxes, paper, etc. when you’re moved in. Home sweet green home!
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June 14th, 2007
Your Recycling Mysteries–Solved!
It is amazing how confusing recycling can be. It should be easy, right? Unfortunately it is not so clear-cut. We have received many emails from well-meaning folks like you pondering the what/when/how of recycling. We are going to try to sort it all out for you here. According to the EPA today, the US recycles 25% of its trash, when it could recycle 75%! So let’s all pitch in and turn up the volume on our recycling.
The Basics: Glass, Metal, Paper and Plastics
Not all paper, plastics or metal are created equal. We will sift through the issues here. First, glass is completely recyclable and saves precious energy resources. Making products from recycled glass uses less energy than starting from scratch. Recycled glass is made into new beverage bottles, food jars, insulation and other construction materials. So put glass containers in your recycling bin, but be sure to dispose of the caps and lids separately. They are typically not recyclable.
No surprise: aluminum cans are like gold. Aluminum is the most valuable of household recyclables. Aluminum cans are recycled to produce new aluminum cans. By recycling aluminum cans, you are helping to conserve energy. Rinse the cans to prevent attracting insects and crush them to save space.
Other sources of household aluminum such as clean aluminum foil, clean pie tins, aluminum siding, and the metal frames of aluminum lawn furniture also can be recycled. These items, however, may not be accepted by your local program or may require special handling. Check with your local recycling program.
One important note related to both glass and metal: you do not have to clean the heck out of them before throwing them in your bin. You also don’t have to remove labels. The heat used in the recycling process deals with contaminants easily– and you get to save water!
Newspapers, office paper and junk mail are typically all recyclable. Newspapers are recycled into paperboard, new newsprint, and into insulation. In general, you can include any inserts (yes those stacks of advertisements) delivered with the paper. Office paper can also be recycled into other writing paper, tissue and paper towels. Some local recycling programs are now recycling magazines and catalogs and unwanted “junk” mail. These should be handled in the same way as newsprint. But again please check your local services to see how they want paper disposal to be handled.
For all of your local recycling questions and needs we highly recommend you consult with the outstanding website Earth911.org. This website allows you to look up your local recycling centers/information and learn everything you need to know about the what/how/where of recycling in your area. It’s a must use!
Now for the bad news on paper: coated milk cartons, juice boxes, “tetra packs” and any other kind of coated paper cannot be recycled. So buy plastic milk cartons when you can and try to buy drinks and other food items in glass or metal containers that can be recycled.
Plastics are quite confusing. The plastics industry has developed a coding system to help us identify different types of plastic resins used in packaging. Even though they all come in that little icon with the revolving arrows–making us think they are recyclable– in fact, many types of plastics are not recyclable. The codes can be found on the bottom of most plastic containers. These numbers mean very different things– so you need to know what you’re doing.
Plastic soda bottles, made from PET and labeled number 1, are recyclable. About 30% of all PET bottles sold are actually recycled. Rinse the bottle, remove the cap and put it in your recycling bin. Plastic milk jugs are also recyclable. The plastic used in milk and and some jugs (high density polyethylene or HDPE) is also recycled to make products such as trash cans and plastic pipe. These containers are coded with the number 2. Your recycling program may also accept other HDPE containers. As with other containers, rinse and flatten them to save space.
Some yogurt (but not all) and other food containers are also recyclable. You have to check the numbers and know your local regulations. Plastic types 3, 4, 5, and can be recycled, but there are not large markets for these materials yet. Typically they are not included in most curb-side programs and should not be thrown in with your normal recycling. But, as always, check with your local centers. Type 7 plastics are typically a mix of different resins and thus cannot be recycled.
Leaves, Grass and Other Yard Debris
Many cities now offer pick up for “green waste”– grass clippings, dead flowers, branches, etc. The city then piles them with other folks’ foliage and voila, makes some delightful mulch. But hey, we’ve got an even better idea: make your own mulch at home with your own nifty composter! You also get to throw in your food trash (non-meat) and thus reduce further the amount of your trash that goes to the landfill. See our composter selection here.
Batteries– Dispose of with care!
Many people seem not to know that batteries– both household and car batteries– contain very toxic materials that must be treated as hazardous waste. These should NOT be thrown in with your household trash. For household batteries, please store dead ones and then take them to your local hazardous trash dump. This facility will most likely also take your car battery, but if not you can also take a car battery to your auto mechanic and they will dispose of it properly (although they may charge you a small fee.) Rechargable batteries used in cell phone, laptops and other electronics are even worse; you must take them to a hazardous waste disposal facility, or check with your local electronics store.
Again, for local hazardous waste locations, please go to Earth911.org.
Cell Phones
Can we talk? Cell phones are now staples of modern American life– used by over 150M Americans. The phones contain lead and mercury and thus are also dangerous if not disposed of properly.
Computers, Printers, and other Household Electronics
Many computers, printers, monitors and other electronics can be refurbished and/or recycled. First check with your local programs, but also know that Staples has launched an electronics recycling program. You can take your monitors, computers, keyboards and other electronics into Staples stores and they will do the recycling for you according to EPA standards.
Home appliances like refrigerators, air conditioners, and stoves also have to be disposed of carefully. Older refrigeration units often contain Freon, which is a chemical that is harmful to our ozone layer if not drained and disposed of properly.
Compact Fluorescent Lights
CFLs are wonderful energy savers and you should get them– but they do contain trace amounts of mercury and thus must be disposed of carefully. Please consult your local resources, or check out this great site: LampRecycle.org.
Whew! Whoever thought getting rid of trash could be so complicated!? Well, it’s a bit of a pain but we all have to do our part to save our land from becoming a giant trash pit and to reuse the resources that go into producing our every day goods. Thanks for your good green efforts!!
If we missed anything you’re curious/interested in, please do let us know!
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June 1st, 2007
What Can Renters Do? Yes You Can Green Your Apartment
Many of our readers have rightly noted that we focus on greening homes– and you have pleaded for help on how to live a sustainable life in an apartment. Look no further! We have compiled a helpful list of steps you can take to live an eco-friendly life as a renter. And all of these tips also apply to homes as well– so everyone can use this list!
First things first. We know that as an apartment dweller your options are more limited. You can’t upgrade your insulation, replace your windows, or rip out that creaky old furnace or water heater (and some homeowners would be jealous because of it!). However, there are many changes you can make within the confines of your own walls. The projects below are designed with this in mind. Most landlords would gladly support these projects, as they will reduce not only environmental impacts but also their charges for apartment-wide water or energy sources.
Saving Energy, Saving Money
1. Make sure your windows and doors are sealed tight. Leaky apertures are some of the main ways we lose warm and cool air and thus waste energy and money. Get some caulk and door-stripping here– it’s cheap and this is a seriously easy project to undertake.
2. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs. They last ten times as long and use 1/3 the power. They come in a great selection of shapes, warm hues, dimmers, three-ways– and we have any type of CF light you’d need right here.
3. Change your heater’s air filter. This will make your heating system work more efficiently, save you money on bills, and keep your lungs free of the junk trapped in your nasty old filter. This will cost you $15 and take 5 minutes. Get a filter here.
4. Get a ceiling fan. These EnergyStar efficient models will allow you to use less AC in the summer and keep you warmer in the winter (yes! remember that warm air rises and a ceiling fan helps keep the warm air circulating when you use your furnace). See our selection of ceiling fans.
5. Buy an efficient air conditioner. If you need an air conditioner, choose one with the Energy Star label. And, not all Energy Star air conditioners are made alike. An Energy Star unit must exceed minimum federal standards by 10%; the highest efficiency versions exceed standards by 20% or more. For more information about Energy Star air conditioners and to find specific products, go to the Energy Star website.
It’s important to note that where you live has a dramatic impact on how bad using electricity is for the environment. If you live in Oregon, for instance, your electricity comes from hydro power and generates a small 0.33 pounds of carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour used. If you live in Colorado, however, your electricity comes from coal-fired plants and produces over two pounds of carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour - not too pretty! To find out how much carbon dioxide you can cut by saving electricity, review the table on LIL’s electricity page.
Tidy Up Your Trash Load
1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. We’ve been alarmed to hear how many apartment buildings don’t provide recycling options for their tenants. Gang up with your fellow tenants and take it to your landlord: everyone should have the opportunity to recycle where they live! And if you can’t get your building on the right path, ask any neighboring houses if you can throw your stuff in their recycling bin.
2. Yes, you can compost! In many apartment situations, your only private outdoor real estate is on a deck or patio. The Envirocycle Spinning Composter doesn’t leak, so it’s fine to use in this setting (as long as you follow the instructions so it doesn’t smell!).
For the ultimate in composters, consider the NatureMill automatic composter. This unit can sit right inside your kitchen, and no-one will know it is anything BUT an attractive appliance. In go all of your scraps, and out comes beautiful compost two weeks later.
3. If you have a dog, use biodegradable doggy doo-doo bags. Think how much plastic you throw out with your pooch’s poop each year. It’s enough to clog a landfill, and will sit there for hundreds of years inside that plastic bag. With these biodegradable bags you can walk your dog with the confidence of an environmental defender.
Save Water
1. Get a luxury low-flow shower head. Saving water and energy while taking a shower doesn’t have to mean a major compromise. Taking a shorter shower is one way to save, but another is to use a more efficient showerhead. Conventional showerheads use 2.5 gallons of water per minute (measured at 80 psi of water pressure). Today’s high-tech low-flow showerheads can deliver the same quality shower, but will use less water per minute. You can save up to nearly 4,000 gallons of water per year with one of these great shower heads!
2. Only run full loads in the dishwasher and the laundry machine. You use the same amount of energy to power these machines if you have a 1/2 load or a full one– so wait a couple of days to make sure you have a full load.
3. Put aerators in your faucets. These aerators will keep your hands and dishes clean while saving water and water heating fuel.
Breathe Better Air
1. Use greener cleaners. There are great alternatives to the toxic bombs we buy at the drug store every day. Seventh Generation and Begley’s Best both sell a range of super toxin-free cleaning products. See our selection of green cleaners.
2. If you are doing any painting, use no or low-VOC paints. VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compound and you really don’t want any of those in your body. Fortunately there are new several great brands of healthy paints. Click here to find healthy paints.
3.If you dry clean your clothes with traditional cleaners, air out your clothes outside for as long as possible before bringing them inside. Most dry cleaners use a harmful chemical called PERC in the cleaning process. Better yet, find a green dry cleaner in your area.
Transportation
As an apartment dweller, especially if you live in an urban area, you may already take the best forms of transportation to work - your feet, your bike, or public transit. If not, today’s best hybrids and fuel-efficient vehicles not only save gas and the associated carbon emissions (as much as 50%), but they also save space, making that end-of-the-row parking space underneath your neighbor’s storage area that much more accessible. Visit LIL’s auto pages to find out more about hybrids and biofuel vehicles.
That wasn’t that hard, was it? And you saved so much energy, water and landfill space. Here’s a big sustainable high five to you!
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