Keeping Cool in the Heat

It’s summer time, the sun is shining and the weather is warm or more accurately- hot if you live in Arizona. Have you noticed the temperature inside of your house increasing with the weather? Well, there are some things that you can do to make your home more energy efficient by preventing the elements from entering your home. Using less energy will also save you some Green ($), while also reducing your carbon footprint.

• Get a programmable thermostat and use it wisely. If you already have one, set it higher when you know no one will be home and at night. If you have a large home, you can go one-step further by installing multi-zone heating/cooling and only alter the temperature for the parts of the home being occupied.

• Use a fan. You can make the temperature in the room feel about two degrees cooler. Just be sure to turn them off when you leave the room and don’t leave them on while you are at work for your pet. Fans do not work for animals because they don’t cool the skin the same. We sweat- animals pant.

• Purchase sunshades. Installing sunshades on East and West facing windows will have the largest impact on temperature control.

• Install awnings. Awnings can provide shade and help to keep your home cool from the sun.

• Upgrade your windows. Think about replacing your windows for multi-pane, Energy Star, low-E (emissivity) windows. Be sure to recycle the old ones by donating to an organization such as Habitat for Humanity.

• Schedule an energy audit. An energy audit will produce a HERS (Home Energy Rating System) score. This is one of the best non-biased indicators of how Green and energy efficient a home is. An audit can show you exactly where your home is susceptible to the outdoor elements with an IR camera. The auditor will check your insulation, windows, doors, heating and cooling system, and air ducts to look for energy loss. Even better, there are $75 to $175 in rebates from APS to have this done. The cost is $250 for one A/C unit and $500 for two A/C units. Contact me to set one up.

Finally, If you do upgrade the windows, install sunshades, have multi-zone heating and cooling or have a HERS score, they are all newly searchable “energy efficient/green” features on the MLS and can help increase the resale value of your home.

Clean Green

Just how safe are your household cleaners? Are you sure that you and your family  are not being exposed to harmful chemicals? This week’s tip is about Green  housekeeping and learning about Green methods and options for cleaning.    

There are currently no standards for the labeling on cleaning products or any  requirements to disclose all ingredients. Additionally, unlike foods, the order  of ingredients listed is not reflective of  greatest amount to least amount.  Many products on the market claim to be “natural”, “safe”, biodegradable”, and  “eco-friendly” but are left unregulated. The terms are vague and can be left to  interpretation Here are some ways to avoid false marketing claims and clean  healthier.

    • Look for the word “organic.”  

Cleaning products that have the word organic on them are the only products that have passed Federal standards.

    • Read the labels.  

Avoid products containing the following harmful chemicals: Ammonia, butyl cellosolve, chlorine bleach, d-limonene, disinfectants, fragrances, hydrochloric and sulfuric acid, naptha, petroleum-based ingredients, phosphates, sodium  hydroxide (lye), and diethenolamine (DEA) and triethanolamine (TEA).

     • Make your own (non-toxic) cleaners.  

Baking soda can be used to clean in the kitchen, to treat stains, and remove odors. White vinegar can be used to help kill germs, kill weeds, as well  deodorize the home. Hydrogen peroxide can be used in place of bleach for stain  removal and bleaching and killing of germs. Borax could be used to freshen  laundry and cream of tartar can be used to remove stains in bathtubs/showers.  Home made cleaning recipes can be found at greenerchoices.org and thegreenguide.com.

    • Do the research to find healthier products before you get to the store.  

Green Seal and the EPA’s Design for the Environment are two organizations identifying green household products. (Greenseal.org and epa.gov/dfe) Two of the  most familiar brands I noted from the websites were the Green Works and Method  cleaning products. I personally use Mrs. Meyers all-purpose cleaner; you dilute  it and it last forever, cleans everything, and the lavender scent is refreshing. 

Flush Smarter

Bring the Green!

This week’s Green tip is about conserving water. Did you know that your toilet is the single largest user of water in your home? Toilets account for approximately 40% of water use in homes. Here are three ways to save water and money from going down the toilet.

First, you can save water by placing a large river rock or a two-liter bottle filled with water in the back of your tank. This will keep your tank from filling all of the way with water and will still get the job done. Best of all it doesn’t cost much and is a quick fix.

Second, there is a product I found on the internet called the dual flush toilet conversion kit, sold by a company in Michigan for $30. It can be installed on most toilets and the company claims it can reduce water use by 42 gallons per day for a 4 person family, flushing 20 times a day. It works by allowing the user to turn the handle two different directions, one for a full flush and the other for just a rinse. http://www.dualflushkit.com/

Finally, one of the hottest trends in home remodels and building is to install a dual flush toilet. You can choose a large flush or a small flush depending on the need. They cost about $300 and can be purchased almost anywhere toilets are sold.

Toilets built before 1980 use approximately 6-7 gallons per flush, newer toilets use about 3.5 gallons and energy efficient toilets use 1.6 gallons per flush. I challenge you to think about how can you help to save water, our most precious natural resource, and save money by using less water this weekend. Calculate your water use at www.nwf.org/water/watercalculator.

(Graph from evmwd.com)

For more links related to water usage go to the resources page at www.greenphoenixproperty.com.

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” -Mahatma Gandhi.

Article by: Melisa Camp

Realtor ®, GREEN

HomeSmart International

1715 W. Northern Ave., #100

Phoenix, AZ 85021

ph: 480-703-3202

melisacamp@cox.net

www.greenphoenixproperty.com

www.bringthegreen.blogspot.com