Going Green, what does it mean?!

Go Green, Go Eco-friendly. It seems everywhere you look you see buzz words like Carbon footprint, Global warming and Energy-efficient. These catch phrases have become part of our every day vocabulary (especially if you are in the real estate biz like I am).  As local real estate agents, we here at nutshell are doing our part to help Ulster County Green Real Estate.

If you are looking to purchase or build a home, ask your builder or real estate sales person about energy efficient home features.  In my market (the Ulster County Real Estate Market) there are more and more energy efficient homes are coming on the market that are considered to be

If you are already a homeowner, there are some very simple and inexpensive ways you can make your home energy-efficient (Green). Here are five things you can do to get on the green bandwagon.

Change The Light Bulbs

By replacing just five incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs, you can save $100 per year on electric bills while using up to 75 percent less energy and removing greenhouse gases from the environment.

Washer broken?  Make sure the next one you buy is an ENERGY STAR® Appliance

ENERGY STAR appliances meet a higher level of energy efficiency set by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and U.S. Department of Energy than most of the standard models. Switching to these energy efficient appliances is not only good for the environment, it can also save you a few bucks. Although initially these appliances may costs more, down the road you can reduce your energy bill by $80 per year.

Seal It Up!

Cracks, gaps and air leaks are responsible for your cash seeping from doors and windows. A tube of caulk from your local hardware store can fix those leaks right up. By doing this, you will take a small bite out of your heating and cooling bill. One thing to keep in mind though: make sure you use silicone sealants. Acrylic caulk will shrink over time, while silicone is waterproof and will hold its shape.

Go Easy on the H2O

The majority of the homes use of water comes from the bathroom. The biggest water guzzler is the commode, the household toilet accounts for 27 percent of your entire water supply every year. Low-flow toilets, faucets and shower heads and can save thousands of gallons of water each year. Coming in at a close second are leaky fixtures. Slow-dripping faucets can waste as much as 2,400 gallons of water each year.

Thermostat: stay on top of it or go automatic or both

As a rule of thumb, you should turn up the dial in the summer and down in the winter.  You would be surprised to find out how much energy you can save by adjusting the thermostat by one degree above or below your normal comfort zone (chances are you won't even notice). The best bet is to use a programmable thermostat.  You can easily program your cooling and heating systems to be used less at night or when no one is home. Ceiling fans are also a good idea as they circulating warm and cool air putting less strain on your heating and air-conditioning system.

Going green doesn't have to be overwhelming or cost you an arm and a leg. By making just a few small changes in your home, you can significantly decrease the consumption of energy and help make the world a “greener” place.

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