Tips for Greening your Apartment or Home in 2009

1. Recycle according to your building's guidelines.
2. Upgrade appliances. Modern appliances are more efficient than older ones.
3. Unplug chargers and appliances such as VCR or a coffee maker when you're not using them. Believe it or not, left plugged, these appliances take up energy. You'll actually save on your electric bill. And when buying appliances, look for the "Energy Star" label.
4. Switch to a green energy provider: http://www.askpsc.com/ or call 866-GRN-POWR
5. Switch to ENERGY-STAR - qualified compact flouresent light bulbs (CFLs)
6. Bring a cloth or canvas bag to the supermarket
7. Switch to paperless bank statements
8. Recycle unwanted electronics, computers monitors and printers through one of the retailer or manufacturer-sponsored, take-back programs below. Beginning July 2009 NYC law will require all electronics manufacturers to adopt e-recycling programs.

Manufactures Take - Back Programs:

• Apple: 888-638-2761; http://www.apple.com/enviroment/recycling/nationalservice/us.html

• Cannon: 800-385-2155

• Dell: 800-915-3355; http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/about_dell/values/environment/reccling_main?~ck=ln&c=us&l=en&lnki=0&s=corp

• Epson: http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/Recycle/RecycleProgram.jsp

• Hewlett-Packard: http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/globalcitizenship/environment/recycle/index.html

• IBM: 888-SHOP-IBM; http://www.ibm.com/ibm/environment/products/recycling.shtml

• Lenovo: (including IBM laptops) http://lenovo.ecotakeback.com

• Lexmark: 800-LEXMARK (539-6275) http://www.lexmark.com/recycle/

• Sony: 877-439-2795; http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId-10551&categoryId=8198552921644513777&langId=1&storeId=10151

• Toshiba: http://explore.toshiba.com/innovation-lab/green

For home renovations, go to www.environmentalhomecenter.com, where you can purchase green building materials such as paint, countertops, flooring, cleaning supplies, etc. The www.thegreenguide.com has useful, practical everyday living information.

And finally if you're ready to live in a new green (LEED) certified condo recently built or currently under construction in Manhattan - go to my new developments page on my website fill out the buyer form and write green in the comment section. I will send you email listings of green condos that match your buying criteria.

Courtesy of: New York State Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal: 212-873-6368 - Rosenthal@assembly.state.ny.us

Local and global real estate questions and referrals are always welcomed.