green: Carova's Recycling Center gets Ready for Valentine's Day - 02/03/11 09:36 AM
Groundhog Day as come and gone. Phil didn't see his shadow, it's time to gear up for an early spring and hopefully a beautiful Valentine's day.
To get ready for that event the people at Carova's Recycling Center have already started decorating. So let's all do our part to help out and "Put Your Heart Into Recycling". :)
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green: A Green Thought: What Happens to the Christmas Trees? - 01/17/11 07:55 AM
Have you ever wondered where all those Christmas trees go after Christmas? Think of all the trees that were cut down to be put on display in people’s living rooms for 3-4 weeks and then tossed on the curb for the trash collector. I never really gave it much thought, probably because when growing up we would get a tree that still had roots and dad would replant it along the property line. This is a GREAT way to give yourself a privacy fence although it may take a few years. :) When I got married and moved into my own … (5 comments)
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green: Attic Insulation Saves You Money - 01/17/11 05:52 AM
As many people across the country are seeing their energy bills go up this winter it's good to remember that spending BIG money on newer, more efficient furnaces might not be their only option. One more cost effective thing to do first would be to check for proper insulation in their attics.I have been on many home inspections where their might not have been enough installed to do a good enough job, and a few where sections of the attic had no insulation at all.
Attic Insulation Saves You Money Add attic insulation to lower heating and cooling costs by as much as $600 per year. … (2 comments)
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green: GREEN REAL ESTATE PREDICTIONS FOR 2011 - 01/13/11 02:05 PM
I came just came across an interesting article by Jim Simco, and I thought I would share it.
GREEN REAL ESTATE PREDICTIONS FOR 2011 by Jim Simcoe In less than 24 hours 2010 will be over and a new year of real estate investment opportunities and challenges will begin. In regards to green real estate, here are my predictions for 2011 (in no order):1. Green Value will replace Green Hype. 2010 was the last year we’ll see people largely add green elements to their projects just for the heck of it. Value is starting to trump hype (even in California) … (5 comments)
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green: Holiday Season Green Tips - 11/20/10 12:28 PM
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green: November Green Action Tip - 11/01/10 10:14 AM
These are some great tips that came to me in an email last week. 25 A-peeling Uses for Fruit and Veggie Scraps Got watermelon rinds or onion skins? Save money around the house with these creative food waste recycling tips.
Nearly all fruit and vegetable skins can be added to the compost pile. But since I'm the ultimate Green Cheapskate, I like to get even more mileage out of my rinds -- at least before I deposit them in my compost pile."A rind is a terrible thing to waste." If you're a composting enthusiast like me, that's our mantra.
Try out these … (4 comments)
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green: The Outer Banks is going Blue Green - 10/18/10 12:19 PM
One of the newest non-profit organizations to come to the Outer Banks is Blue Green Outer Banks. Their purpose is for community awareness and participation in moving toward a greener, healthier environment by rethinking waste. The Outer Banks is a unique area that can set themselves apart by becoming advocates of rethinking how they can improve the environment while at the same time utilizing and supporting local talent.
Partnered with the arts community Blue Green Outer Banks is trying to fill the local gift shops with unique gifts created from recycled products such as crushed glass (available free from their local recycling center), and the use … (1 comments)
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green: 20 "GREEN" Tips for the Fall - 10/17/10 12:05 PM
20 “Green” tips for Fall September 22nd, was the first day of autumn ... the Autumnal Equinox. In many areas the temperatures are beginning to drop and soon leaves will begin to fall. It turns out that this time of year is perfect for Eco-friendly activities. A little effort in the fall will ensure that the chilly months ahead are warm and “green”.
Here are some ideas:
Check the air pressure in your tires. Cooler temperatures lower tire pressure and that, in turn, lowers fuel efficiency. So check your tires and make sure that they are properly inflated. Clean and service … (4 comments)
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green: June's Green Action Tips - 06/08/10 01:33 PM
Tips for Going Green on a Budget Going green doesn't have to cost a lot of green! Use these simple tips to make a positive impact on the environment while keeping your wallet intact. It's easy, even for the laziest of environmentalists.
Shut down and unplug electronics. Make small changes to use – and pay for – less energy, like shutting down your computer when you're not using it and plugging your cell phone and other electronics into power strips so you can turn several devices off with one switch. Wash your clothes in cold water. By using cold water instead … (4 comments)
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green: May's Green Action Tips - 05/04/10 10:57 AM
Living Green – Spring Clean As spring settles in, the days get sunnier. Doesn't it feel like it’s time to open the windows and spruce up your living space with a little spring cleaning? In these rough financial times, we’re all looking to save a little green. However, for those of us who are trying to live green and are already paying a little extra for organic foods, shelling out a little extra for greener household products might not be an option.
Here’s some good news: You can make your own cleaners for a fraction of the cost. And not only can … (0 comments)
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green: A New Outer Banks for the Old Vacationers - 04/04/10 06:52 AM
People who have been coming to The Outer Banks of North Carolina should be aware of some "Green" changes that have happened since last Summer. The obvious change they will notice is that when they go shopping they will be getting paper not plastic. The legislature passed a ban on plastic bags on the Outer Banks about 9 months ago. The changes that are not as obvious, but are important for out of state vacationers to know, is that North Carolina has made it illegal to throw away plastic bottles or aluminum cans into their land fills. The ban on aluminum cans … (1 comments)
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green: April's GREEN Action Tips - 04/02/10 01:27 PM
LESS IS MORE - Outdoor Watering
Reduce Wasted Water Did You Know?
· Outdoor water use can account for up to 50% of total water use for a home during the summer months.
· Homes with automated irrigation systems are more likely to overuse outdoor water (i.e. wasted water running down sidewalk).
· Over irrigation can damage plants or make them unhealthy.
· Over-watered plants are more susceptible to disease and pest infestation. (Personally, I have killed more plants from over-watering than under-watering.) What You Can Do:
· Mulch - Mulch holds moisture in the soil and prevents evaporation from … (9 comments)
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green: It's Almost Earth Hour - 03/25/10 04:52 AM
It’s about Earth Hour, which is this Saturday at 8:30 local time. On Earth Hour hundreds of millions of people around the world will come together to call for action on climate change by doing something quite simple—turning off their lights for one hour. The movement symbolizes that by working together, each of us can make a positive impact in this fight, protecting our future and that of future generations. Learn more about how Earth Hour began, what we’ve accomplished, and what is in store for 2010.
In support of this event, please be sure to turn off … (2 comments)
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green: 6 Reasons to use an Independent Energy Audit Company for Your New Home - 03/11/10 05:18 AM
A lot has changed since this post was written in 2008. In that time I have seen more and more people talking about getting an energy audit done. But since ho one I know on the Outer Banks has actually done it yet, I decided that I would put my house to the test and post both my experience and my results.
I believe that when the market returns, these scores will have a definite impact on resell value.
Via Mike Michaud (North Texas Help-U-Build):
Why should anyone use an independent energy audit company to assess the design, materials and systems in their home? Don’t the … (3 comments)
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green: Appraisers need help with Green Homes - 03/10/10 06:15 AM
I read an interesting article yesterday from CNNMoney.com talking about the issues appraisers are having getting new construction homes with green features to appraise for enough to cover the cost of the construction. One of there biggest obstacles is the lack of resale housing with similar features to use as comps. It is an interesting "catch 22". Without the comps the houses won't get built. If the houses don't get built, there won't be any comps. Green housing has been very slow to catch on in many areas, but I do believe that once it gets past these obstacles it will take off very fast, and the ones that bit the bullet and made … (7 comments)
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green: March Green Action Tips - 03/02/10 03:55 PM
REDUCE, RE-PURPOSE, RECYCLE Is your "stuff" affecting your quality of life? It is estimated that:
· We only use 20% of the stuff in our homes.
· We wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time.
· De-cluttering eliminates 40% of work needed to clean the average home. We live in a consumer-driven society and most of us are affected to varying degrees. We are enticed and urged to want/need more, newer, better. We buy then we have to find a place for the new item. Sometimes the new item requires additional purchases to care for it properly. … (2 comments)
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green: Ways we can harness the wind without without big wind farms. - 02/23/10 03:41 PM
When people think of wind power they think enormous windmills on gigantic towers. Many wil agree that they work well in certain areas, but are unsightly. Who wants to have this beside their neighborhood?
or this view from their beach?
But today may creative minds are coming up with new ways to integrate wind turbines with our communities that are not only more aesthetic, but in some cases almost artistic.
Take a look at some of these:
Turbines powered by the turbulence created by cars.
Turbines atop of street lights.
Vertical Axis Roof Mounted Wind Turbines
By turning our energy problems over to the … (7 comments)
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green: Green Energy: Wind or Solar? - 02/22/10 05:09 AM
Many people who you talk to about generating electricity at home seem polarized to either wind turbines or solar panels. I found this great article at http://windpowerspot.com that suggests "Why not use both?" For many areas maybe a mixture of both is the best way to handle our energy needs.
Many people today have realized the dream of being completely off the grid by combining wind and solar energy. Small sized affordable wind generators are available today for the home user, and they are being combined with photovoltaic cells for power generation. It’s obvious that fossil fuel energy costs are going to keep on rising making it harder … (1 comments)
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green: New Energy Efficient Mortgages Coming Soon from Fannie Mae and ENERGY STAR - 02/09/10 05:41 AM
After the dust settles from all these foreclosures & short sales, I believe that Green housing will be the next wave in real estate. It is good to see signs that people like Fannie Mae are seeing that also and are already taking steps to be prepared for it.
Via Christa Ross (RE/MAX Select Realty - REALTOR and Green Homes Specialist):
Fannie Mae and ENERGY STAR have both announced that they will be introducing new mortgage products and/or incentives for buyers that want to purchase an energy efficient home or make upgrades to a purchase. These will be new products from the current Energy … (2 comments)
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green: February Green Action Tip - 02/06/10 02:13 PM
I got these great tips from our company and thought that I would share them with all of you.
February Green Action Tip
10 Tips to Save Energy (and Money) in Your Home A whopping 46 percent of home energy use is energy loss! In other words, no productive energy use at all! Here are simple ways of reversing this, mostly by changes of habit.
1. Each degree you turn down the heat saves 3 percent of heating costs, while each degree you raise the temperature of your air conditioner saves 3-4 percent of cooling costs. By changing the … (2 comments)
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