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Going Green

Going green is a force that's coming on stronger and stronger. More and more people want to take green alternatives where they can, because it IS our planet. It'd be nice for it to be around for a few years, right?

I'm going to start showcasing different websites that can help guide you to a more green way of living. First, we're going to start off with the US Department of Energy website: http://www.energy.gov/. Right on the home page, they have ‘Energy Saving Tips' with easy and inexpensive ways to watch your energy consumption and thereby become more green - I love it when two birds are in line with one stone, don't you?

From there, you can explore the site for more energy saving tricks for your home and cars, what tax breaks you can get, and what more technology is on the horizon. There's also SO much more on the DoE's website, so check it out!

This information is presented by:

Connie Taylor

Keller Williams

ConnieTaylor@KW.com

www.SoldByConnieTaylor.com

Information is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed.

Posted by Connie Taylor on 08/21/2009 05:22 PM

Comments (35)

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35 Comments on Going Green

AUG

Baby steps. Baby steps.

If we all take one action to save energy each day, we'd be way ahead.

Sadly, I don't believe the government's plan to let folks who pollute sell their pollution to folks who don't is a great solution. It doesn't save any energy, but merely puts it on someone else's account.

I'll pay for my own consumption and save where I can.

I am a designated GREEN Broker. Thanks for contributing and giving people easy tips on going green. Small changes will make a difference!

Thank you both for your comments!

I agree that baby steps will help us all. Taking one tip, turning it into a habit, moving on to the next tip, being aware of what we're purchasing, buying green when able... It will all add up!

Michael, I'm intrigued - what does being designated a Green broker mean exactly?

The Green designation is a NAR designation. View the Green Resource Council for more info. I have this certification as well as the EcoBroker certification- they are both great courses.

Green is great... I like wallet green. Saving money is a great plan. Spending $20k in order to save $1000/year isn't. As long as we can keep everything in perspective...

I've been an Ecobroker for several years now and happy to see "green" catching on. I run 2 Green Drinks groups and see them growing. But one thing I see missing - Education of Realtors. I see MLS listings that are green washing or just plan wrong on a daily basis. If you are going to be an agent who promotes green know what you (or whom ever) are doing.

I too agree small changes make the difference. Thanks for the post today....it's always good to get the word out to people.

Patricia Aulson/portsmouth nh real estate

Connie,

I have a site for moms "Positive Moms can change the world one child at a time" is what I composed to state our cause at the Positive Mommies Network.

If everyone does one small thing, they can create a huge impact on anything.

I shop online for green products...and my girls are learning about Disney channel 'friends for change'.

I love DENA's title "ecobroker" and I absolutely think your post is genius!

Going green is smart. I will have to check out all your info and your sites in the future.

I heard something on the radio today that if people stopped eating meat (I'm not recommending that) that you could solve 50% of global warming because the amount of nitrous oxide produced in the entire production of meat.

Chris, there are lots and lots of arguments for not eating beef anymore - but I'm not ready to give up my occasional burger yet. Most argue that beef is not native to the Americas and the discussion starts there.... the green movement has many arms and directions.

I think the first step is maybe not eliminating meat, but how about making portions more realistic. If you actually look at what size a burger was 50 years ago, you'll be shocked to know that today's burger is twice it's size. No wonder we have an obesity problem.

Connie ~ Funny, but nobody thinks to go to government websites for information, do they?

I signed up at the DOE's website quite a while ago and get their monthly newsletter by email. I often incorporate their ideas in my own newsletters. It's a great site.

I don't have any designations, but I learned from my German friends what it means to be green and we've got some catching up to do!

AUG

Connie, I frequently visit the site you've brought to the public's attention. Until reading the comments regarding this blog, I didn't realize I'd missed the place where I could sign up to receive the monthly newsletter, thanks to Denise.

Connie, my comment didn't come out in print as it appeared in my head. When I read your blog I thought how great that you've put the link out to Realtors. Even those who know about the site might not think about it and visit it very often. I'll be bookmarking your blogs for future reference.

Going Green is just good business! Not only does it help our future in business, but it is also the right thing to do. We are making it our goal to assist Realtors & Sellers to come together and find green ways to view homes.

I am blogging this week about light bulbs and recycled toilet paper. I am also trying to get over my addiction to books. The Kindle is coming and it will be sitting proudly next to my iPod. I got over my CD addiction. We can make a difference now.

Connie,

Thank you for the information and the link. We have just ordered new windows and according to the salesperson we should save 40% only our energy bill, plus we get the tax break. Not only are we helping the planet but we are also saving money so it does pay to go green.

Sharon

MD's realtor conference this year is all about going green. I'm going to be there and learn how we all can contribute to help our cause. Like Lenn says, if we could all just take one action to save energy each day, we'd be way ahead.

Our office is as "Green" as I can make it. We have fluorescent lights in the entire office, even the recessed lights. Automatic motion sensor light switches in every room. It is a small step but it helps.

I love the whole "going Green" ideas. I want to get an Eco-Broker designation and learn more about it - Nashville is finally getting its first truly sustainable neighborhood! Go GREEN!!!

I'm probably older than most of you, and I remember times when everything was not packaged in plastic that would be thrown into a landfill. Babies wore diapers made of cotton that got washed and hung out on a clothesline to dry in the sun or from a diaper service (luxury in those days)(those babies also got potty trained much earlier). Lunch was not at a drive-through with throw-away containers and untensils. Drinking water was obtained from the tap, into a washable vessel, not a throw-away plastic bottle. Ladies and Gentlemen, Your 'CONVENIENT" lifestyle is not very GREEN. All the real estate ECO-designations (EIEIO, LALALA) in the world are not going to make any difference in anything significant ecology-wise. Common sense would go much farther.

AUG

I have to completely agree with Pat. You can get all the designations you want, but if you don't practice what you preach and simplify in some way-- you are not being very green.

I hate the buzz word "green" and opt for the use of "sustainable" instead because it means something more to me. Green has the tendency to be greenwashed and is the latest marketing trend. What does it mean to be green? I've seen so many products with this label that are so far from being "green". This is my favorite topic to post on. I write a blog about sustainable housing and living and find that most people really don't want to make the sacrifices away from convenience to be truly sustainable. They are much happier to buy green products and consider this the best act to save the planet. The best way to go green in my opinion-- is to stop buying so much stuff!

This is such a great idea. I live in an area that is very active in the GREEN movement and think my readers would benefit greatly from this type of information as well. Thanks for putting a seed in my head ;-)

Ok, What does all mean. We have to talk it and walk it to be it. I was using a solar shower 40 years ago and have used demand water heaters for the past 35 years. I live green as much as I can everyday and of course, since I am human, I blow it a lot. This is waht si green to me: When I go grocery shopping and I forgot my reusable bags out in the car, I go back out and get them.

Oh boy...Could a topic get more controversial? Nope.

Junk science. Feel good legislation. Big brother. Flatulence tax. Carbon Credits. :-|

We are green simply because our business model is virtually paperless but I'll be darned if I'm gonna use light bulbs that force me to struggle while reading, drive a car that's so small it's like driving a coffin, pay more for food because of some governmental policy to punish successful industry and reward overseas polluters, or be forced on some arbitrary diet because a bureaucrat thinks my BMI might be a bit too high. That's where we're heading if you listen to the "greeners". No thank you.

Although I respect everyone's right to believe what they like. I believe the whole "green" movement is a farce. Waste is wrong but I hope this "green" fad fades quickly. Remember the cover of Time Magazine 1974 that read "ANOTHER ICE AGE". Or when the Carter administration reduced the speed limit to 55 because we were on the verge of an oil crisis and gas shortage. Well, that was a long time ago and guess what, we're still producing gas. I'm a consumer who makes his own choices and don't want a group or movement to dictate the way I should live.

I'm with Lenn. I'll be green on my terms...

Sorry for the rant... :-)

Gene & Kim,

And I suppose that there is no such thing as global warming and no problem with the ozone layer, or that in a few years the glaciers in the Himalayas will melt so there will be no water to grow the food they need over there which does not concern us of course, etc, etc, etc.

I know that I have use compact florescent light bulbs exclusively for 30 years and have save a ton of energy, money, time and the environment. You are not the only one who can rant on. Let's get real guys!

Connie, Thanks again for the blog. I intend to do several on this subject soon.

The Earth goes through cooling and warming cycles. To point out one era in cooling or warming to serve a politically motivated outcome is intellectually dishonest in my humble opinion.

Evidence from NASA Microwave Sounding Unit and Hadley Climate Research Unit (Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii) delivered irrefutable scientific evidence that the earth is now in a period of global cooling. Earth temperatures decreased 0.7 of 1 percent during the last three years. Thirty-one thousand (31,000) climate scientists according to the International Climate Conference have signed a petition rejecting global warming.

During the past winter of 2008-09, 1,500 new record low temperatures were set, along with 700 snow records; 179 glaciers around the world are advancing at record rate. There is a variety of scientific data to support both sides of the argument no doubt but I'm not inclined to trust he government, the UN or the scientific community when they have been wrong so many times in the past.

Real indeed.

Sorry for the hijack... :-)

Gene

Gene, Approximately 1/100th of 1% of the scientific community agrees with you. There are more adults that believe in Santa Claus and the tooth fairy. If you look at pictures of the glaciers around the world you will see over a period of the past 30 years they are substantially smaller. I have seen it myself in person. It astounds me that people like you can believe as they do. I do not trust the government either. But, I trust my own eyes and ears and what more then 99% of the scientific community in this arena beleive. And most of them are not part of the govenment.

Your distortion of reality is amazing. I hope you do not run your real estate business the same way. Facts are facts and they are almost indisputible. It is not the government. It is a preponderance of the evidence and some people because of their personal beliefs, values, or agenda find a way to see something else.

And Hijack or not, I hope others weigh in on this.

AUG

The majority of people once accepted slavery too. The majority of people once believed the world was flat. The majority isn't always correct.

"Distortion of reality", how I run my business?...Paleeze!

Conversation over!

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Connie - Thanks for the link. Doing what we can, no matter how big or small, is so important.

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