PROView - June 2008 - (Page 4)

Tips to Start Every-Day "Green" Living Each January I commit to a new and healthy lifestyle. I’m going to run before work each day, eat my green beans daily and visit the gym three or four times each week for another reason than the social aspect of meeting my friends. Each year, however, my effort tends to end as the month rolls over to February. Why? Answer: Too much too soon. I hear the same from many others: we tend to take on too much and fail as the change becomes overwhelming. Have you been there too? I reflected on my annual New Year’s resolution as I reviewed our materials for this month’s issue of PROView Magazine as we wanted to provide easy to implement ways for a greener as well as more economical living. By taking smaller measures we can all help preserve our environment and even save money while doing it. Without being overwhelmed. You as REALTOR® have an opportunity to teach your sphere of influence how to make their homes greener and in this issue we have put together a green toolbox of tips you can use to help spread some ideas on how to do it. There’s also a tip on how you can make green part of your business model. I certainly want to help preserve our environment but as with my I-want-to-be-healthy-so-now-everything-hasto-change approach, I quickly feel overwhelmed by the idea of changing my entire lifestyle to live green. There are small things we can do daily, however, as you will see in the next pages. Hopefully these suggestions will help you achieve an every-day greener living without feeling overwhelmed. Sincerely, Mathias Bergendahl Editor Sustainable  Recycling is important, but first and foremost: Use less.  The things you do use can often be used over and over again – either for the same purpose or for something totally new. Be creative. Not only are you cutting back on your resource use; you’ll also end up with some cool eye-catching conversation starters. San Mateo County’s RecycleWorks is a great place to start sparking your imagination.  Set aside bins in your green home to separate and collect recyclable materials, including newspapers, white paper, clear and colored glass, plastic water and milk bottles, aluminum, cardboard, batteries and fluorescent light bulbs. Check with your local trash-collection company, municipal government or business directory to find out what recycling services are available.  Packing peanuts and other loose fill will sit in a landfill for centuries, but there are lots of places you can bring them for recycling. Call the Peanut Hotline at 1-800-828-2214.  Many computers, monitors, cell phones and other electronics include toxic materials that should not sit in landfills, and you’d be surprised how many retailers and other companies will take your old gadgets for recycling. The Environmental Protection Agency can help you find local electronics recyclers.  And that’s not all: Did you know you can recycle athletic shoes? Mattresses? Dry-cleaning hangers and plastic? Here are seven items you didn’t know you could recycle. Reducing, Reusing Cleaning  Use non-toxic, environmentally safe, biodegradable cleaning products, including laundry products, which you can find at any natural grocery and even many mainstream stores. Just read the labels carefully.  Don’t pollute your indoor air or mask odors that could alert you to a problem. Choose fragrance-free products. 4 PINELLAS REALTOR® ORGANIZATION June 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of PROView - June 2008

PROView - June 2008 Contents Chairman’s Notes Sustainable Lifestyles Greening the Not-So-New House Green Renovation Checklist Green Building Tips Going Green PROActive You Have 30 Seconds to Prove Your Value Marketplace Analysis Home Sales Report PRO Biz Calendar of Events & Programs New Members and Affiliates

PROView - June 2008

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