Tinta Latina Magazine Article

I found a link to an article I wrote for Tinta Latina Magazine a long time ago:

http://www.tintalatina.net/issues/tinta_35/real_estate.html

Eco-Friendly Tips for the Home
By Emily McBride

Lately we hear a lot about "going green." You might have wondered how you can go green or if there are simple things that you can do in your own home to lessen your impact on the environment and help your wallet at the same time. If so, you are not alone.

Here are just a few tips for going green:

Visit websites like www.carboncounter.org or www.carbonfootprint.com to use their calculators and find out the size of your carbon footprint and how you can offset this! It's easy - you can make a donation and even help plant trees.

Another resource is www.plant-a-tree-today.org.

Make sure your appliances, windows and light bulbs are energy-efficient. Energy-saving, compact-fluorescent light bulbs use 75% less energy than standard light bulbs while producing about the same light output. They also last 6 to 10 times longer (per www.topbulb.com ).

You may want to consider using or installing solar electricity or solar heating. Be sure to speak with different contractors and take a look at the different systems and models to see what will best suit your needs.

Installing or improving the insulation in your home can help to save you money on your heating and cooling bills. One of the easiest and most effective places to install insulation is in your attic. Be sure to get bids from at least three contractors.

Use daylight when possible, and be sure to turn off lights and electronics in parts of your home that you are not using.

When buying a home or remodeling, hire a Realtor who is a licensed EcoBroker (this is a certification obtained after an agent has gone through a series of classes) to help you with tips on alternative materials that are durable, long lasting, renewable and/or environmentally friendly and how to properly deal with issues like mold or radon.

Old toilets can use more than 3.5 gallons per flush (GPF). By using a water-saving toilet, you can save 1.9 to 2.7 GPF. The same is true with your showerhead. Three billion gallons of water flow through showerheads every day in this country, and about half of that water is unnecessary. Convert your showerhead to a low-flow model.

Emily McBride with Village Properties,
Christie's Great Estates can be reached at 805.252.2773.