10 Projects to “Green” Your Home In Plantation, FL

If you want to know how much your house will sell for in South Florida, Broward County go to www.OurHouseWorth.com or call Irene Medina.Realtor at 954-439-4851.

 “Going green” in Plantation, FL means living in a way that’s environmentally friendly. It uses less water, less electricity, and less fuel, conserving natural resources while protecting the environment. It also saves money on utility bills, which is something all homeowners can appreciate. From simple to elaborate, here are a few ways to green your house and property.

Focus On the Light

Replacing your most-used light bulbs with CFLs will lower your electric bill while producing less heat and lasting longer than your incandescent bulbs.

While you’re at it, in your Plantation, FL home, consider adding dimmer switches, motion sensors, and timers for your home In Coral Springs, FL when you’re away from home in the evening. Also, keep your light bulbs clean: Dirt and grease coats the bulbs and not only reduces the available light, but causes the bulb to burn out sooner.

Mix Your Own Cleaners

Many commercial cleaning products contain bleach and other harsh chemicals. Switch to natural products and solutions you mix up yourself. Clean up hard water deposits with vinegar, for instance, or use it to wash your windows. White vinegar mixed with hydrogen peroxide also sanitizes countertops (killing 99 percent of E. coli).

Go Low-Flow

Low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators (the tip that screws on to the nozzle) cost little and can save about half the water without sacrificing water pressure in your Coral Springs, FL home. Low-flow toilets are another option. Look for a water-saving toilet displaying the WaterSense label. Alternatively, fill a 2-liter bottle with water and drop it in the toilet tank to displace some of the water. This will force the toilet to use less water per flush.

If you’re in the market for a new water heater for your home in Plantation, FL, consider choosing a tankless water heater. It allows you to use the same amount of water, but it heats the water only when it’s needed, so you save a lot of energy. Wrapping a conventional (tank-based) water heater with a special insulation and insulating all the hot-water pipes also conserves energy.

Spread the Greenery

To really green your Plantation, FL house and property, visit your local plant and tree nursery. Outdoors, shade trees not only cut your cooling costs (up to 25 percent), but in the winter, trees and shrubs also break the wind and affect your heating costs. Inside, plants not only make a home feel more comfortable, they also help purify the air and produce oxygen.

Reduce VOCs

Indoors and out, you’re surrounded by volatile organic compounds. VOCs are any carbon-containing substance that “off-gasses” (meaning it becomes a vapor, or evaporates) at room temperature. VOCs pose a significant health hazard. Paints, varnishes, cigarette smoke, pesticides, gasoline and other fuels, various glues and adhesives, cosmetic products, automotive exhaust, even cleaning products are but a few of the items that contain VOCs. When painting your home in Plantation, FL, look for low VOC paints, particularly those featuring the Green Seal.

Look for the Energy Star Logo

Getting rid of old appliances and upgrading to new, energy-efficient models can save you a significant amount of money. The EPA suggests replacing any appliance older than 10 years. Select models displaying the Energy Star logo to ensure energy efficiency.

Plant a Garden

Gardening can be a soothing activity, but this project also ensures you have healthy food. Home-grown food costs drastically less, enhances the outdoor environment, and reduces the environmental impact of commercially-bought food. Even if you have a small property in Plantation, FL, you can use containers and hanging devices to maximize your growing space.

Reduce Your Need for Paper

Register for paperless billing with utility and finance companies, and stop getting as much unsolicited mail as possible. The Federal Trade Commission offers a guide on how to “just say no” to junk mail.

Use Reclaimed Wood

Have a DIY project needing wood in your Plantation, FL home? “Used” wood is environmentally friendly and creates a beautiful look. Salvaged lumber can be used anywhere regular wood is used. You can even get creative and build a fence with wood pallets, for instance.

Move the Air

Insulating and sealing your home in Plantation, FL is critical. Another simple project to lower your heating and cooling costs is installing ceiling fans. In the winter, set the rotation to push warm air downward; in the summer, switch the blade rotation to draw warm air up instead. Moving air makes it feel cooler in the summer as well, allowing you to keep the thermostat a little higher.

As you green your home and lifestyle, be on the lookout for additional incentives. You may be eligible for tax benefits for some energy-saving projects. Going green doesn’t have to be expensive, and it’s always rewarding.

Irene Medina, Realtor, and The Medina Real Estate Group have vast experience in marketing of properties extensively worldwide via the internet. They sell their listings in record time and for top dollar. They have received many recommendations from their extremely satisfied customers. Realtor Irene and The Medina Real Estate Group service, Plantation, Fort Lauderdale, Plantation, Parkland, Davie, Weston, Tamarac, Broward County and South Palm Beach. She has been a Silver medal winner with Keller Williams for the past 3 years. She is a Certified Residential Specialist, CRS, Certified Distressed Property Expert, CDPE, she is also a Graduate of the Realtor Institute, GRI. She also holds the following designations, SFR, CHS, TRC and is working on her Commercial Real Estate accreditation.

Irene Medina of The Medina Real Estate Group from Keller Williams Realty has become a certified member ofGiveback Homes Organization. The Giveback Homes model is simple; for every home members of our network buy or sell, we help build a home for a family in need. Through the partnership between Giveback Homes and Habitat for Humanity, 100 percent of member donations go directly to building projects in developing countries in Central America and assisting with build days in the United States. Giveback Homes is dedicated to creating a sustainable relationship between real estate professionals, home-buyers, home-sellers, and communities in need throughout the world. Our goal is create social change through the act of buying or selling a home. “I feel very honored to be a part of such a wonderful organization!” said Irene Medina of The Medina Real Estate Group. My goal is to build a home a year in Nicaragua and to help build homes in New York City, which is where I am originally from.” For every home they help sell, they will donate money to help build a home for a family in need.

IreneMedina.Realtor has been a Florida resident for the past 22 years and has been a Broward County resident for 21 years. She is originally from Brooklyn, New York and her parents are from Puerto Rico. She lives in Plantation with her husband, Jason, 3 daughters, Golden Retriever (Rosie), Corgie (Cinnamon) and 3 cats!

Realtor Irene and The Medina Real Estate Group will “Stand by YOU Every Step of the Way!” from start to finish.

For Your FREE 15 SECOND Home Valuation go to: www.OurHouseWorth.com

Need to Sell your home go to: Steps to Selling Your Home

If you need to Short Sale your home, please go to www.FlShortSaleServices.com.

If you are a buyer looking to buy a home go to www.TheMedinaRealEstateGroup.com.

Client Testimonials

Irene Medina / Realtor irene_medina@ymail.com / 954-439-4851 The Medina Real Estate Group www.TheMedinaRealEstateGroup.com