EVERYONE IS GOING GREEN!

Consumers' interest in the "green movement" has never been so high. Home builders, retailers, financial services providers, and product manufacturers are all seeking to satisfy consumers' demand for eco-friendly products and services. From energy-efficient light bulbs to solar-paneled roofs, from recycling plastic and paper to driving more fuel-efficient cars, consumers have gravitated to the idea that they can help the earth by making smarter purchases and lifestyle decisions. 

So what does it really mean to "Go Green"?

GOING GREEN: "A phrase referring to individual action that a person can consciously take to curb harmful effects on the environment through consumer habits, behavior, and lifestyle." (more here)

What does that have to do with Real Estate? PLENTY! And will more so in the next few years. Did you know that 70-80% of the nation's new home Builders are now required to use at least some "green" materials to maintain at least a minimal percentage of green-ness when building? More on that later.
 
"Green Building" is "designed to conserve resources and reduce negative impacts on the environment - whether it is energy, water, building materials or land. Compared to conventional construction, green buildings may use one or more renewable energy systems for heating and cooling, such as solar electric, solar hot water, geothermal, bio mass, or any combination of these."

You may be thinking that you already do a lot to help preserve our delicate environment when you recycle aluminum cans or only water your lawns or pump gas at certain times of day. Those things DO HELP but there are many NEWLY discovered things you can now be doing to improve the quality of both the air your breathe and the energy you consume. Things you're probably not even aware of.

Download Prudential's eco-smart tip sheet to help you remember little ways to go green everyday!

BTW - I am by no means an expert on environmental issues, chemistry, or any other earth science. In addition to having been recently made privvy to the information below, I want to tell you that without the help of the many wonderful Green websites out there that helped me to better understand what "going green" is all about, this page would not be possible. I feel compelled to share this information with anyone and everyone who wants to improve the quality of the air they breathe, reduce the energy they consume AND save lots of money in the long run. I invite everyone to join me by making just one change a week or even one a month. Its a start!

You know it won't be easy (but it will be easier than you think!) and we'll be doing it together.
OK - Ready? Let's get started!

DANNI D's TOP WAYS TO GO GREENER IN 2009
(a work in progress)

 
1. Use L.E.D. instead of compact flourescent lighting in your home and office.

WHY? Many reasons. For starters LED bulbs are much more energy efficient than compact flourescents (CFLs) and often outlive those twirly CFLs by as much as 10 years! Plus they don't contain harmful Mercury like CFLs do AND they're recyclable (like CFLs AREN'T). Ever drop one of those CFL's or flourescent office bulbs - the long ones - and they break open? What comes out ain't pretty and its going right into your lungs. For literally just a few dollars more (LED bulbs for the home can range from $6 - 25), you can have a better, fuller spectrum of light that's much more like natural daylight, no more Mercury in your home, and its better for the planet. 

2. Stop buying so much bottled water all the time.

WHY? Because empty plastic bottles that do not decompose are filling up landfills all over the world and it's gotten really critical, really quickly. We're encouraged to use a carbon or other patented/ approved filter (like a Britta pitcher, for example - I love mine) when getting water from the tap or drinking "city water." We've been mis-informed for so long and told to drink this pre-packaged water that is supposed to be "purer and cleaner" - but who knows what you're really drinking? Remember Evian is Naive spelled backwards ;-) So drink less bottled water, please. And remember not to drink bottled water that has been sitting in a hot car all day. When the plastic bottle heats up chemicals in the plastic leech out into the water and guess where that toxic water is going? Yup. You got it - inside YOU.
As a side note, I heard recently that removing the plastic cap on a bottle of water before tossing it away greatly increases the chance that it WILL be recycled. Apparently, the plastic cap is NOT recycleable material and may actually discourage recycling parties to recycle your bottle if they have to take the extra step of removing the cap first. What a world. Good info to have.
See What Katie Couric Tells Us

3. Invest in a little "fake grass". (And NO I don't mean that old, rough, astro turf, outdoor carpeting stuff that gave you rug burns when you were a kid)

WHY? As global warming continues to adversely affect our weather patterns, we find ourselves more prone to drought and longer than average dry spells than ever before. Every homeowner likes their front yard or front of the home to look good. But tough times call for tough measures. The Wynn in Las Vegas recently "greened" their massive front lawn with SYNLawn (SYNBlue to be exact), a synthetic grass that looks and feels completely real, doesnt need watering (even in Las Vegas!) and never needs mowing. This stuff is the future of green-scaping (is that a word yet?) as it becomes more widely and commercially available. Many Lowes stores in the west and southwestern US are already carry it for installation. Others will catch on soon I'm sure. Also, less mowing means less gasoline used to cut it and this less emissions on top of using little or NO water!

4. Get rid of the granite.

WHY? Studies have shown that granite (which comes from the Earth) may actually emit or contribute to unhealthy levels of Radon (a colorless, odorless gas that is a result of decaying uranium in the ground and may cause lung cancer) in your home. The findings are mixed and the informational sources credited range from reputable to idiotic but better safe than sorry is the general rule. See this interesting article here from Inhabitat.

5. "Free"cycle.

WHY? "Freecycling" is the practice of buying or utilizing existing products instead of always purchasing NEW ones which encourage destruction and disposal of the old ones, often undesirably. What can I freecycle you may ask? Well, cars for one. There's absolutely nothing wrong with buying a quality used vehicle to guzzle the gas you buy instead of a brand new one to replace your last one, probably now in a junk or salvage yard somewhere rotting away chemicals, rust, old oil and who knows what else into the atmosphere. Some websites even offer trade or used items for FREE, many items are just "gently used" and still have  afew good years left in them. Some suggested/generally "freecycleable" items include furniture, working electronics including computers, cell phones, sheds or other small structures, clothing and swing/playsets. More ideas here and here!
Other Freecycle resources: Yahoo! Groups (Phillyfreecycle) and FREESHARING.ORG

Many more ideas and tips for better living to come. In the meantime, see the sites below for more inspirational and informative ideas!

Helpful and informative links and sites with more green ideas:

www.EcoGeek.org
 www.GreenUpgrader.com
www.RiverWired.com
www.TreeHugger.com
www.RealClimate.org
www.EcoRazzi.com
www.PlanetArk.com
www.TerraCycle.net
www.TheGreenLoop.com
www.RECYCLINE.com
www.HomeAndPlanet.com
www.OnlyNaturalPet.com (for greener pet food)
www.Freecycle.org

Also Try the Green Living Toolbox, a collection of more than 50 web resources, tools and idea pages to help you get greener!

Call me for even more information at (610) 828-9200, x 126