PROView - June 2008 - (Page 7)

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION Washing day. Save $30 to $40 per year in water heating costs by washing and rinsing clothes in cold water. You can also save more than 3,400 gallons of water per year, according to Energy Star, by washing full loads instead of partial loads. $ 4. Battery recycling. Recycle your old cell phones and used portable rechargeable batteries from cordless power tools, laptop computers, digital cameras and other devices. For drop-o sites, visit, rbrc.org/call2recycle/dropo . $ 8. 13. Hung out to dry. Many newer 9. Run the numbers. Use the U.S. the sun’s rays or subjected to heat from an adjacent oven or heating vent have to work harder to chill your food. If possible, relocate the fridge to a cooler spot, or close window coverings to keep the sun o . $ your computer and monitor’s power management features so they go into sleep mode when idle can save from $25 to $75 each year in energy costs, according to Energy Star. Also, turn o computers and peripherals at night. $ 5. Refrigerators blasted by EPA’s online emissions calculator to nd out how many greenhouse gas emissions your household is responsible for. Spend 10 minutes entering your data, and you’ll get a rough estimate of your total CO2 emissions, plus action steps to go on a carbon diet. epa.gov/climate change/wycd/calculator/ind_calculator. html $ clothes dryers have moisture sensors that shut o the heat when they detect that the clothes are dry. If your dryer lacks this feature, try not to overdry your clothes. Operating the dryer for an extra 15 minutes per load can cost as much as $34 per year, according to Energy Star. $ 6. Rock-a-bye computer. Enabling Think globally, buy locally. Choosing a product that’s harvested or made locally reduces transportation energy use and helps sustain your community’s economy. $ Nix the night lights. Install motion sensors, photocell controls or timers so outdoor lights are only on when needed. Reduce light pollution and keep the night sky darker by using light xtures that direct light downward instead of toward the sky. $ 10. 14. Worried about toxins in the home? The Washington Toxics Coalition reports that using entryway mats can reduce the amount of pesticide residue on carpets by 25% and the amount of dust on carpets by 33%. And homes where shoes are removed at the door, according to the WTC, have 10 times less dust than homes where shoes are worn. $ 11. 15. Paint your home green. The air Wrap it up. In the winter, room air conditioners installed in windows can be a source of cold drafts. Remove window units during cold months or insulate them with tight- tting A/C covers, available from most local home-improvement stores. $ 7. 12. If you have incandescent light xtures where you can’t or don’t want to use compact uorescent bulbs, install dimmer switches. Dimming shaves a bit o an incandescent bulb’s energy use and makes the bulb last longer (Note: Most compact uoresuores cent bulbs can’t be used with dimmer switches). $ in our homes can be two to ve times more polluted than outdoor air. One of the major culprits? Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, that are released from paint, particleboard and other home-improvement products. Most major paint manufacturers now make low-VOC paints, and some o er zero-VOC paints. $ PINELLAS REALTOR® ORGANIZATION June 2008 7 http://rbrc.org/call2recycle/dropoff http://epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/calculator/ind_calculator.html http://epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/calculator/ind_calculator.html http://epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/calculator/ind_calculator.html

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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