8 things to do to start GREENing your LIFE
There are always we can change our lifestyles and habits to help us save the environment and save money at the same time. There are some difficult things you can do and some easy things you can do. For most people out there they don’t know where to begin. Just google it and a million different things pop up.
Here are some easy things you can do and if you’re already doing the basics, I’ve added some practical ways you can step it up.
1. Recycle – Its fee and it reduces household consumption and increases energy efficiency.
Here is what we can recycle in Cincinnati:
- Newspaper
- Plastic bottles #1 (PET)
- Plastic bottles #2 (HDPE)
- Steel food cans
- Aluminum cans
- Glass bottles and jars
- Residential mixed paper, including: envelopes with an without windows, cereal boxes, construction paper, school papers, office paper, brown paper grocery bags.
- Cardboard boxes (broken down into 3 feet by 3 feet sections.
If you already recycle these items, start recycling all of your electronic waste and hazardous waste. Start becoming more conscious of what you buy and the packaging it comes in. Buy items from local stores whenever and wherever possible.
2. Save Water – Install low-flow shower heads and faucets to cut back on water flow. Or maybe learn to shorten your shower times. Already do this? Add a rain barrel or plant a rain garden this summer. Water your plants with this water instead of water from the tap.
3. Reduce Electricity - Remember to turn off the light when you leave the room and to unplug your computer and other electronics when they’re not in use. Remember even when plugged in your electronics are sucking power (vampire power).
4. Replace Light Bulbs - Replace your current light bulbs with compact fluorescent lighting. They will last longer and use less energy. Just remember to recycle them properly when they’re dead.
5. Adjust your refrigerator temperature – Refrigerators use the most electricity in your house. Adjust your fridge to the average temperature of 37 degrees F and your freezer to 0 degrees F. Also, be sure to clean the coils in the back of your fridge so you get optimum performance out of it. And remember a full refrigerator uses less energy than an empty one.
6. Add a Hot Water Jacket - You can add a hot water heater jacket for less than 20$ and it will save you much more in the future. Also be sure to check the temperature. Most of us run our hot water heaters so hot that we have to mix cold water in to get the right temperature. Adjust it so that the hottest setting isn’t at scalding.
7. Dry your clothes outside – Hang dry your cloths. Not using your dryer will reduce the amount of energy you use in your home. Remeber to wash your clothes in cold water. This will save on hot water.
8. Install a programmable thermostat – this will allow you to program your furnace/AC to work during the hours you are actually at home and work less when you’re not there. Its definitely worth it and fun to use!
These items are just the beginning. Once you start seeing your savings, you’ll be hooked and wondering if your house is suitable for solar panels.
Happy Greening!
Add comment February 17, 2009
The Green Side of Northside
Let’s get something cleared away first. The Cincinnati Northside Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation, more effortlessly referred to as “CNCURC, ” is pronounced – how? ”Kirk,” “Churk,” or “Cin-kirk” – take your pick, the jury is still out on that one. Whatever you may call them, this dynamic group continues to improve upon their extraordinary demonstration of civic capacity. Founded in 2006 to eradicate blight in targeted Northside neighborhoods, this CDC (Community Development Corporation) continues to make a huge impact with their latest success story, 4154 Mad Anthony.
CNCURC purchased the home in early 2008 and, securing the combination of public and private and funding needed for the proposed redevelopment, architect Tim Jeckering’s plans were set in motion. Under the direction of Project Manager Michael Berry and the board of directors headed by President and long-time neighborhood activist, Stefanie Sunderland, 4154 Mad Anthony has unfolded into a prime example of sustainable reclaimation. Working with the solid, double-brick exterior, the interior has undergone a total overhaul: new drywall, oak flooring, all new HVAC system, elctrical wiring, PEX plumbing, roof, gutters and downspouts, windows, spray foam insulation, fixtures, lighting and cabinetry.
Having made a firm commitment to greening the housing stock they control, CNCURC made the most energy efficient choices that the budget would allow, paying attention to indoor air quality as well. The icynene (foam) insulation will reduce air infiltration dramatically, to about 1/6th of fiberglass batting. Insulated windows and a high-efficiency heating and cooling system will significantly improve the building’s thermal envelope. Mature trees on this beautiful double lot will help keep the home cool in the summer.
The home’s modern updates, two generous bedrooms, 2 baths, large open living area on the first floor, second floor laundry, modern kitchen with conrete countertops, stainless steel appliances and ample lighting, blend well with the original charm of the house, preserved in features such as the two original mirrored oak and tile fireplaces and restored banister. The large front porch and rear deck provide plenty of room for outdoor entertaining, with off-street parking in the back and plenty of yard for children, dogs, or gardening. Located just two blocks from CNCURC’s first two LEED-certified projects at the corner of Chase and Fergus, 4154 Mad Anthony is within easy walking distance to Northside’s Entertainment District, local greenspace and is just steps from Bloomfield + Schon’s proposed Factory Square project.
The home is represented by Libby Hunter and Jami Stutzman of Comey and Shepherd Realtors, listed at $154,900. (513) 260-9632 or (513) 515-0689. Stay tuned for details of the grand opening event in early March!
Add comment February 14, 2009
In the News…
Check out the latest from Sian Bitner at the Enquirer:
“Real Estate Life is Greener on the Other Side”
AND…
Jami and I just finished up a tour of Gateway Quarter’s new LEED-certified condo project, Mottainai (VERY cool – call for details!).
Add comment February 7, 2009
Easy Green at Home
Nearly on a daily basis we are asked where to begin with making energy upgrades to Cincinnati’s aging housing stock. As we’ve written, the first best step is to go with a home energy evaluation (call our friends at EnergyQue), or a more in-depth full blower door test with certified contractors such as Professional Energy Consulting or Green Building Consulting. These services will range from $145 – $450 for an average sized home, but we understand that there are those of you out there who would like to know what can be done without spending a dime or calling in the specialists.
For those die-hard do-it-yourselfers out there, grab a notebook and get ready to do a full sight-check of your home. This is just a small sample of items to note in your house, but take it seriously, and consider ways to expand on this and visit other sites such as The Home Engery Saver to calcuate your energy usage. Starting in the basement, make certain your hot water heater is set to 120 or less, and start making a list for Home Depot: hot water heater jacket, $25. The return on investment is typically less than a year for this no-brainer. Add to this some foam tube insulation to wrap around your hot water pipes, and you can boost your hot water efficiency signifcantly.
If you have a forced-air furnace, and central A/C, change the filters! We see numerous houses each week and as realtors, we make energy efficiency a priority when showing properties. Jami and I provide info to our buyers on a home’s energy usage as well as potential risks and costs associated with taking on a house with outdated systems. An un-serviced furnace with nasty, old, over-used filters is a red flag that there could be other deferred maintenance issues with the house. While checking over your HVAC, take a close look at the ductwork. If you have an older home, chances are your ductwork is not sealed at the joints. Ironically, duct tape is not your best bet here – get a small tub of mastic (Home Depot list) and apply it to all the joints to keep that air flowing where it is intended. Consider a programmable thermostat upstairs – the cost of $115 or so will pay for itself in a little over half a year.
Basement windows and exterior doors – take advantage of this cold weather and feel for leaks. Caulk the gaps (a further word of advice – don’t leave the caulk gun where the kids can find it – we had a Battle of Normandy re-enactment with the caulk guns, not pretty…).
Moving upstairs, consider small changes such as installing compact flourescent light bulbs, with a return-on-investment (ROI) of less than a year and a lifespan of 13 times or more than regular incandescent bulbs. Teach children to turn off lights and electronics… perhaps a small allowance boost for consistent help from the kids to show that saving energy does make an impact financially as well as environmentally.
Check around electrical outlets, cut-outs for plumbing and gaps around recessed lighting – on a typicaly winter day, you can often feel a breeze coming from these huge leaks.
Take advantage of some passive solar around the house – keep blinds and curtains open on south-facing windows, then reverse this in the warmer months.
This is such a minimal start, but collectively the impact can be huge. Read on for some more ROI stats, thanks to Green and Save.com:
START SMALL:
Low-flow shower heads: Cost – $180. Payback time - .9 years. Annual savings – $300. 1-year ROI – 111.1%
Heating system tune-up: Cost – $200. Payback time – 1.1 years. Annual savings – $180 1-year ROI – $90%
Programmable thermostat: Cost – $115. Payback time - .6 years. Annual savings – $180 (or more, if you use it well!) 1-year ROI – 156.6%
CFL’s: Cost – $60. Payback time - .8 years. Annual savings – $80
THINK BIG: Plan for larger upgrades, particularly if you plan on staying in your home:
Energy Star Windows – payback time can average 2.5 years.
Solar Attic Fan – payback in 2.5 years.
High Performance Water Heater – 3.5 years.
Water Filters for the whole house – 3.2 years
High-Efficiency Furnace – 3.8 years, or consider geothermal with a payback time as low as 5-7 years.
Low-Flow Toilets – 6.7 years
Solar Hot Water Heater – 8.9 years
The options are nearly endless, and more and more we hear that these environmentally responsible choices are becoming more appealing, more compelling and less intimidating for our clients once they understand the savings to their bottom line. Small changes are accessible to nearly all of us, and should be the ONLY choice in the marketplace as far as we’re concerned. The Energy Information Administration tells us that homes will account for 26% of the energy consumption in the U.S. in 2010, and over half of this comes from fossil fuels. As of right now, only about .03% of our home energy usage comes from renewable resources.
Add comment February 6, 2009
Composting with WORMS!
I took a composting 101 class down at Park + Vine the other week. I’ve always been a bit overwhelmed by the thought of composting. I’m not a gardner and I never learned anything about gardening. At times I pretend like I am and I will buy plants and weed and do ‘gardeny’ things, but I usually end up neglecting the plants and they end up dying.
That’s why I like the thought of composting. Instead of trying to keep something alive, I’m helping to speed up the decaying process. As weird and twisted as it sounds, I like this.
So this class helped me get started. We learned the basics on composting. We can buy expensive bins or we can make them ourselves. The key seems to be in the mixture of greens and browns. All very exciting stuff.
However, what actually got me pumped up was the vermicomposting! This is more my speed – Have a bunch of pet worms make the dirt for you! Its perfect. I’m ready to get started. I’m tired of throwing my food scraps in the empty lot next door to me. This type of composting is actually perfect for people who have little to no yard, or they live in the city or apartment complexes.
Our class didn’t focus very much on this type of composting, so I’ve looked elsewhere to get me started. All you need is a plastic tub and a pound of worms. Here is a very helpful site from the self proclaimed “worm woman.” It seems easy and fun to do. If you’ve got kids this is a great way to teach them about composting and to have fun at the same time! Now I’ve got to go find somewhere to buy a pound of worms….
For Step by Step Instructions Click here
4 comments January 27, 2009
emersion DESIGN Awards
Hats off to our friends at emersion DESIGN for their success at the 12th Cincinnati Design Awards, sponsored by the American Institute of Architects Cincinnati. Emersion took home not one but three honors, in the following categories:
· Over-the-Rhine: Green Historic Study - AIA Honorable Mention for Architectural Advancement: A cooperative Study with the Over the Rhine Foundation, UC DAAP, Gray & Pape & others, which affirms through case studies that LEED and Historic Preservation standards can be integrated to provide sustainability benefits as well as secure tax incentives.
· LE3D–Social Sustainability Rating System - AIA Honor Award for Architectural Advancement: A proposal for integrating social sustainability into the LEED Rating System.
· emersion DESIGN Office Expansion – IIDA Honor Award for Built Work: a 1,700 SF collaborative workspace currently under review by USGBC for LEED Platinum certification.
Each year, the AIA Cincinnati holds the Cincinnati Design Awards to honor regional architects in the fields of new construction, unbuilt work, and distinguished details. We applaud emersion DESIGN in their commitment to sustainable design practices not only in their exceptional work for clients but on their home turf as well.
Add comment January 16, 2009
Small Changes #1: School Lunch Waste
How successful are New Year’s resolutions? Why not have resolutions all throughout the year? It seems that the dawn of a new calendar inspires us to sweep away our old, undesirable patterns, taking aim at habits we are not proud of. Why not do this more often than December 31st? In fact, why go with the ginormous, sweeping resolutions that most of us can’t live up to? Can small, mundane resolutions add up to something significant? This is part of an ongoing journal of my family’s experience in making seemingly small changes in our habits and lifestyle with the bigger environmental picture in mind.
Each morning, I have a brief, bleary-eyed struggle with the task of getting lunches packed for my three elementary school boys in record time. I have to be perfectly honest here and admit that my need for single-mom, crazy-busy-life-efficiency in this most painful morning task had led me down the dark path to disposables, no matter how much I know this was not environmentally correct (EC). Don’t say it – I know I should be packing their lunches the night before. Better yet, have the boys do it themselves. That will follow shortly.
I found myself with this ugly confession to make to the planet, that I had resorted to disposable juice boxes and way too much plastic on sandwiches and snacks. I tried to be diligent, buying rubbermaid containers and making sure the boys bring their lunchboxes home every day. Somehow the little plastic baggies and cling wrap clung their way onto my daily routine and each morning I found myself looking away as I grabbed yet another ziplock. This might seem to be a tediously mundane topic, but consider this: a typical American school kid generates 67 pounds of discarded lunchbox packaging waste per school year. That’s more than 18,000 pounds yearly for the average sized elementary school.
Plastic stinks, we all know this. But what about tinfoil? While it is 100% recyclable, Rumpke doesn’t take it! See their list of acceptable materials for details. Not to mention that a study conducted by EPA indicates that the refinery processes generate about one ton of solid waste during the production of a ton of aluminum. What’s the solution? For the boys and myself, we’re looking to plastic as a necessary evil – not the throw-away baggies, but reusable plastic containers for everything that goes in their lunch box. We’ve added stainless steel bottles that they take filtered water in each day. As if the accumulation of water bottles in landfills isn’t frightening enough (28 billion bottles produced a year, 80% of which end up in landfills), bottled water companies do not have to release their water-testing results to the public.
What about paper napkins? Naw, that’s what jeans are for. I have boys after all.
As a new member of the Cincinnati Public Schools Sustainable Schools Committee, I find myself particulary drawn to the zero-waste schools initiative, “Sustainable Design Initiative #10.” I can’t show up to the next committee meeting with my self-respect in tact if I were still tossing a disposable juice container x3 in the school’s dumpster each day (BTW… you can buy a mini messenger bag for kids made from recycled juice boxes by a women’s co-op in the Phillipines…very cool). These are small changes we’re starting with at home, but let’s see where they lead… and how we can inspire each other to make a commitment to these seemingly small changes that can add up to a tremendous positive impact when done en force.
Next time – Getting the Kids Involved (or, “Pack Your Own Freakin’ Lunch”). As an aside, those of you with kids and TV sets should really check out the Planet Green show with the incomparable Bill Nye, “Stuff Happens.” I’m something of a screen-time Nazi, no TV Monday through Friday. The boys tape this show during the week and I find them sitting totally rapt in front of the screen on Saturday morning, eschewing Saturday morning cartoons for The Science Guy Goes Environ-Mental. It’s great. I was a Pink Panther Saturday morning fan, myself. Let us know about environmental change in your households - from the top-down, kid-driven, pet-inspired, whatever – we’d love to hear from you.
Add comment January 13, 2009
Neat Portable Heater – iHeater
My husband was looking for an inexpensive portable heater to heat about 1000sqft that didn’t have any off gassing or fumes. We went to all the major home stores and couldn’t find anything. So we turned to the internet and found the iHeater.
This little guy claims to use advanced infrared heating technology, be environementally save and energy efficient. Not sure how true these claims are, but we thought it was worth trying out. We purchased it a few nights ago and it actually came today!
Here is what it claims:
If you are looking for a technically advanced infrared heating system that will save you hundreds of dollars off your standard heating bill, then you have found the right product. Some of the major reasons why you should buy an iHeater portable infrared heater are as follows:
- Reduced expenses when you use less energy (operates more efficiently, by heating more space on less energy)
- The heat stays closer to the floor thus not wasting it near the ceiling
- Easy to install (Just plug it in!)
- Does not take the humidity out of the air while heating it like most electric heaters do
- Keeps your floors warmer
- No furnace filters are needed to keep your air clean (built in lifetime air filter,easy to remove and wipe clean)
- Rated safe by insurance companies
We got it – so I’ll let you know how it works! I’m heating my toes as I type right now…
1 comment January 9, 2009
How Will You Help in 2009?
Most of us want to do the right thing, we care about making a difference, minimizing our impact on the environment and making socially responsible choices. No fist-pounding here about environmental resolutions for the new year, we don’t want to harass anyone into modifying their lifestyle with a nearly impossible list of eco-must-do’s.
Rather, Jami and I are taking a good, hard look at our simple, daily habits – those small things we do by second nature, or almost unconsciously – and how they might be altered to help reduce waste, contribute to the recovery of our environment and ultimately lead to bigger and more impactful changes. Check back with us to hear what we are doing and how it’s working for us, real life guinea pigs trying to do the best we can within fast-paced, demanding work and family schedules. One goal at a time, making modest progress towards substantial outcomes.
If we can compound this progress by having others join us in making these small changes, imagine the difference! As Alice Walker so aptly put it in an interview last year,
“This is how change happens, though. It is a relay race, and we’re very conscious of that, that our job really is to do our part of the race, and then we pass it on, and then someone picks it up, and it keeps going. And that is how it is. And we can do this, as a planet, with the consciousness that we may not get it, you know, today, but there’s always a tomorrow.”
On a much grander scale, take a moment to consider what our new administration is doing to lead us forward into the environmental era – visit Obama’s address to the Governor’s Global Climate Summit. With new leadership in place that is committed to slowing, halting, and eventually reversing global warming, why not join in our own small, do-able ways? A sort of pride of ownership of a movement that must succeed or we all fail.
Start thinking about your daily choices as a consumer, as a producer, as a parent and a citizen, stay tuned and stay in touch. Here goes:
Obama’s Address to the Governor’s Summit on Global Climate Change
Add comment January 8, 2009
Boosting Home Energy Efficiency
The real estate I sell normally, is incredibly inefficient. They’re almost always 50+ years old, they barely have any insulation, have old windows, old appliances, etc… As I take clients through houses and help them purchase one of these old beauties, my goal is to help them see that they can immediately start saving on their home, if they take some time/money and make some energy upgrades. Its just a part of my job. I love helping someone see where their potential energy leaks are and connecting them with the right resources to help them not only save money, but also consume less resourses. Its a win/win for everyone!
With this always on my mind, I came across an interesting article today in Time Magazine. It basically stated what I’ve been helping my clients with. Becoming more energy efficient, is not conserving energy (like turing down your thermostat and putting a sweater on) its doing the same things but in a more efficient manner! You don’t have to freeze in your house to lower your heating consumption, you just need to make your house more efficient!
They say:
“There are two basic ways to save energy without deprivation or daily effort. We can use more efficient machinery, like fuel-efficient cars that guzzle less gas, or those pigtailed compact fluorescent lightbulbs that use 75% less power than traditional bulbs, or state-of-the-art refrigerators that are three times as efficient as 1973 models. We can also use machinery more productively. That can be as simple as insulating pipes and ducts, caulking doors and windows and otherwise weatherizing our homes to avoid heating our attics and the outdoors. Or installing motion sensors and programmable thermostats that turn out lights and air conditioners when no one’s in the room. President-elect Barack Obama noted on the campaign trail that if we all just properly inflated our tires and maintained our engines, we could save as much oil now as new offshore drilling would produce by 2030. And since buildings devour two-thirds of our power, commercial and industrial operations can weed out even more waste through green construction and automated systems that practically import power as needed. “We’ve hit rock bottom in our addiction to fossil fuels,” says Ian Bowles, Massachusetts energy and environmental affairs secretary. “We need an intervention, and energy efficiency is it.”
If you’d like to know how you can start making your home more efficient, email me! We can help connect you with local professionals who can identify your biggest energy losses.
1 comment January 6, 2009
