If only Kermit knew just how easy it was, he probably would not have lamented that "it ain't easy being green..." and with so many materials and opportunities out there that allow us to switch to more sustainable products and practices, the notion of eco-friendly living is not that out of reach.
To launch the new year, I have decided to commit these next three blog segments to sustainable design, materials and the value of green-living. This first segment will highlight some of the benefits of living green along with tips on inexpensive sustainable practices that are easy to do with just a little time and effort. Without a doubt, there's an emotional aspect to this endeavor. But beyond the warm and fuzzy satisfaction of contributing to the welfare of our environment, there is also a financial benefit that help to drive this trend.
Thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, there are greater incentives for homeowners to improve upon their properties. Under the Residential Property Energy Credit, the energy tax credit rate is increased to 30% for homeowners who make energy efficient improvements to their existing homes such as adding insulation, energy efficient exterior windows and energy-efficient heating and air conditioning systems. While this tax credit require some expense, it does result in long term savings on energy usage and a tax break at the end of the year.
Another great credit that is readily available to consumers is from the Energy Star Rebate Program available through your local utility company. Most homeowners are familiar with these rebates. Still, you may want to take a look again at what your utility company offers. The program varies from one area to another, but there are rebate incentives that may surprise you. In the Rocky Mountain Power service territory, the Home Energy Savings Program features rebates on Energy Star rated lighting fixtures and fans in addition to the appliance rebates that are typically available. You can even get a rebate for recycling that old refrigerator humming away in your basement. Fall River Electric, serving the smaller communities of Eastern Idaho, also still offers Energy Star appliance rebates to their customers.
Then there are the simpler sustainable options. Within our own communities, we are able to live green by utilizing our local recycling programs. Certain areas like Cache County, Utah, have the envious luxury of having curbside recycling while others may have to sort and manage their own materials. Teton County, Wyoming, recycles magazines along with the myriad of paper, plastic, cardboard, aluminum and tin. Likewise, the Madison and Bonneville Counties in Idaho offer similar amenities but with the added benefit of recycling all plastics from 1 to 7. CFLs, certain compact electronics and batteries are among the most challenging to recycle but thanks to places we commonly shop at, these have become less cumbersome to deal with. Your local Home Depot will recycle CFL bulbs. Staples accept old cell phones, PDAs, digital cameras, chargers and rechargable batteries while Batteries Plus will take away your single-use household batteries among others.
Plus, there is a financial plus to recycling. Sign up for Staples Reward Program and return your ink cartridges to your store for rebates. Using grocery sacks as your waste bin liner saves you from store-bought bags. Aluminum recyclers will pay to buy your soda cans. Certain grocers such as Broulim's in the Idaho area will discount your bill for bringing your own reusable bag. Consider your local school as a venue for recycling as well. The PTA organizations may have some programs set up to raise funds. In our own school district, Victor Elementary School's PTA takes grocery bags and ink cartridges to raise money for the school.
As for other ideas for living green at home, here are a few more thoughts to help you reduce your environmental impact without sacrificing modern conveniences. I will also revisit these same ideas on my next segment on sustainable design for remodels or new construction:
• Replace your incandescents with compact fluorescent bulbs.
• Use a reusable soap dispenser and buy liquid soap refills.
• Keep a separate recycling bin next to your waste bin in the kitchen.
• Create a sorting station for your recycling in a mudroom, pantry closet, or garage.
• Keep your freezer temps at 0º and the refrigerator between 35º-38º.
• Turn your dishwasher on at bedtime and let the dishes air-dry overnight instead.
• Most detergents work equally well regardless of water temps so wash laundry in cold water.
• Replace that old, dripping showerhead with a high-efficiency 2.5 gal/min model.
• Consider a hose and showerwand attachment to efficiently clean the shower.
• Do an occasional maintenance check on the toilet to make sure it isn't leaking or running.
A final thought. Reduce your use of paper towels and buy microfiber cloths instead. I am a huge advocate of this material and recommend it to all my clients. I think it is the best cleaning cloth you will find to help you in your day to day cleaning. If you are a Q Design Solution fan on Facebook or follow this Design Cue blog feed, contact me for your free PURE KITCHEN microfiber dusting and cleaning cloth by Now Designs. It absorbs 3-4 times its weight and the microfiber thread is extremely fine and woven into thousands of loops, creating a huge surface area with which to trap bacteria, dust, dirt, and grease. This allows for remarkable dusting and cleaning ability without the use of harsh cleaning chemicals. These versatile cloths can be used dry for dusting, or wet for cleaning. Try it on your windows for a streak-free shine–just use water. You will receive one (1) sample 14x14 cloth with a Q Design Solution logo embroidered on the bottom left.
Some reference links:
Energy Star Website
Residential Property Tax Credit Info
Rocky Mountain Power Home Energy Savings
Fall River Electric Energy Rebate Program
Earth 911
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