Carolina Green Living

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Carolina Green Living

What is all this GREEN talk?

What does it mean?

Why should I care?

Where do I start!!

Green VS Sustainability

Being Green simply describes the action of what is done in your

area of influence that improves the quality of life of what’s

around you.

Sustainability refers to keeping something the same. Always

refers to resources.

Facts• The U.S. is home to only 4.5% of the global

population but is responsible for 15% of world’s consumption of wood

• Average home size has doubled since 1950

• EPA ranks indoor air pollution among top 5 environmental risks

• 2,4.D a component of Agent Orange-is used in about 1,500 lawn care products

• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s-including pesticides) found indoors are believed to cause 3,000 cases of cancer a year in the US

North Carolina Facts

State Lands•115,700 park acres•12,240 recreation acres•29,100 lake acres•34,167 nature park acres•146 miles of rivers•197 miles of trails

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Why Go Green?

For the Environment

•Reduce Waste in LandfillsRECYCLE RECYCLE RECYCLE

•Conserve Natural ResourcesRECYCLE RECYCLE RECYCLE

•Improve Air and Water QualityNON-TOXIC NON-TOXIC NON-TOXIC

•Protect EcosystemsNON-TOXIC NON-TOXIC NON-TOXIC

For the Savings

Make your Dollar go Further

Systems that Reduce Energy Consumption

Saving Energy = Saving Money

Increase Profits

For Your Health

Improve Indoor Air QualityAllergies? Asthma? Chemical Sensitive?

Enhance Quality of Life

When you feel good you are a better you.

• When asked to list their top 12 influences in buying a home, consumers put energy efficiency as No. 2 behind quality of living space. Five years ago, energy didn’t make the list.-NAHB

• Premiums for new building average just 2% and most green buildings cost less than 4% more.

• Green building reduces energy by an average of 33%.

• Green construction grew from $10 billion in 2005 to $49 billion in 2009 and is expected to triple by 2013.-McGraw Hill

Facts

Consumer Trends

Green Building answers the

desire of homebuyers looking for a more energy efficient and

healthier home.

• Programmable Thermostat = saves $$

• Skylights/Solar Tubes = daylighting

• Energy Star Appliances = saves $$

• Hardwood Floors = better IAQ

• Trees on the East and West = lower utility bills

• Walkscore ?? = carbon footprint

Know What You’ve Got

Common Sense Solutions

Keep it Simple

• Remove shoes before entering home

Eliminate tracking oil, dirt, feces, and other gross stuff through your home and imbedding in your carpet

• Use your programmable thermostat

Save $180/year just by adjusting the degrees when your not at home or asleep

• Catch your cold shower water

Place a bucket or water can under the shower until the water heats up. Use the water for household plants. You’ll be amazed at how much water you collect.

No Cost Ways

Little Cost• No Paper Napkins

Purchase inexpensive napkins and reuse those. Cut up one napkin into 4 and trim the edges for lunch boxes.

• Choose Non-Toxic Cleaning Chemicals

Your home will thank you for it. Nothing smells cleaner than non-toxic cleaners. They work great and are easy on the lungs.

• Change the Lightbulbs

CFL’s save lots of money and burn cooler which is also good for the environment. Although they have yet to perfect the dimmer bulb, there are plenty of bright options on the shelves today.

Moderate Cost

• Add Rain Barrel- $65-$100Use the water collected for watering garden beds

• Use Smart Strips- $30-$50

Take the vampire loads out of your entertainment and computer systems

• Look for Energy Star

If you’re purchasing something that’s going to be plugged in-look for the Energy Star Label.

Mid-High Cost

• Tankless or High Efficient Water Heating

Heat’s water only when you need it

• HVAC and Furnace

Properly sized and high SEER units for comfortable living and save $$

• Insulation

Get your biggest return with better insulation

When it’s Time to Replace-Replace Right

Where to Start

If you are interested in improving the energy efficiency of your home-thereby

reducing the amount you pay for utilities...

Start with an Energy Audit!!!

Same goes for improving your home’s efficiency

An energy audit is worth every penny-

range from $200-$600 typically

Home Energy Audit

• Examine your current equipment

• Detect and locate air leaks

• Checks current insulation levels

• Blower Door Test and In-fared Camera often used

Take Advantage

• Federal, State and Local incentives make improvements an easier pill to swallow.

• Here are some examples...

• Federal:• $1,500 tax credit for qualified

improvements expires 12/31/2010!• 30% tax credit for renewal energy

installation and equipment ie. solar

• State:• 35% rebate for renewal energy installation

and equipment when using as a heat source ie. solar radiant floor heating

• Local:• 75% of total installed cost of rain garden or

rain harvesting systems reimbursed through Winston-Salem grant-ends Dec 31

Baby Steps

CFL’s Water Bottle Paper or Plastic?

Support NCGoing Cold

CFL’s

WHY? WHERE?

• Kitchen • Most used bathrooms• Living room • Porch lights• Most used lamps and

rooms• Dispose them at a drop

site such as Home Depot

• 90% of energy used in an incandescent bulb is converted into heat• Energy Star rated CFL’s

use 2/3’s LESS energy• Easy to find• Last up to TEN times

longer• Save $6 in electricity

costs PER BULB per year.

CFL’s

Only 20% of plastic bottles are recycledUS goes through about 70 million bottles a day

Water Bottles

• Drink more tap• Choose stainless

steel as a healthy options• Switch to a

home water cooler

Problem Solution

United States is home to some of the safest drinking water on the

planet.

CFL’s

Each US household uses nearly 100,000 bags a year12 million barrels of oil to produce the US consumptionLess than 3% are recycled

Paper or PlasticPlastic?

• Making 10 billion bags/year (American use) requires 14 million trees to be cut down• Manufacturing

produces 70% more air pollutants than plastic.• Only 20% are being

recycled

PAPERPAPERPLASTIC

90% of energy used to wash clothes is to heat waterClothes won’t fade as fast either

See big $differences$ by using a programmable thermostatTurn off HVAC completely when the weather is nice

Stop the dishwasher during drying cycle

PLASTIC

Going Cold

CFL’s

Local farmers will work for your food!

Many farms offer produce subscriptions, where buyers receive a weekly or monthly basket of produce, flowers, fruits, eggs, milk, meats, or any sort of different farm products.

A CSA, (Community Supported Agriculture) is a way for the food buying public to create a relationship with a farm and to receive a weekly basket of produce.

Support NC

For More Infowww.leaprealty.netwww.energystar.govwww.peanc.orgwww.triadgreenbuilding.orgwww.localharvest.orgwww.ces.ncsu.edu

CFL’s

Share your world with the younger generation.

PLASTIC

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Thank You!