As promised, here is the second half of the "keeping green" tips taken from the MyFloridaClimate.com website. Interested Floridians, or any environmentally aware reader, will find excellent information on Florida's efforts to reduce the devastating effects of climate change. This website provides detailed information on the progress of those efforts. I suggest visiting the MyFloridaClimate.com website to learn more.
Carry a water bottle with you: Buy a reusable bottle that fits your lifestyle and skip buying a new one at every lunchtime stop. Need a reason? Americans use 3.3 million plastic bottles every hour but recycle only one in five.
Turn off your screen saver: Did you know the EPA has estimated that using a computer's "sleep mode" reduces its energy consumption by 60 to 70 percent and, on a large scale, ultimately could save enough electricity each year to power Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, cut electric bills by $2 billion, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by the equivalent of five million cars?
Greenscaping: When organic wastes, such as leaves, grass clippings, food waste, and paper are recycled, we reduce the generation of methane gas in landfills. Almost 60 percent of the municipal solid waste produced in the United States (including paper) is compostable material. Second only to fossil-fuel combustion, landfills are a leading source of greenhouse gases. In 2005, 79 million tons of waste material was diverted away from disposal through recycling and composting.
Slow the flow: Did you know that only one percent of water on our planet is readily available for drinking? That's because only three percent of the world's water is fresh water rather than salt water; and of that amount, icecaps and glaciers account for two thirds. In a typical household, four people use approximately 9,000 gallons per month or 108,000 gallons per year. That's enough water to fill a bathtub more than 2,500 times! More than half of this usage occurs in the bathroom--from toilets (24 percent), baths (9 percent) and showers (21 percent). Leaks in bathroom faucets add another five percent, so the total amounts to much more than just a drop in the bucket.
Paper Waste: Every year enough paper is thrown away to make a 12 foot wall from New York to California. Recycling of each ton of paper saves 17 trees and 7000 gallons of water. Recycled paper also saves 60 percent energy in comparison to new paper and generates 95 percent less air pollution. Since one-fifth of all wood harvested in the world ends up in paper it just makes sense to recycle and conserve this valuable resource.
As always, I remain as "green" conscious as I am dedicated to your luxury real estate needs. Please allow me to assist with the purchase or sale of your real estate investment. Call 954.328.3665 or email Julie@premierestateproperties.com. Visit http://www.luxuryrealestateftl.com/ to view my exciting water and ocean front listings.
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