carolina green living
DESCRIPTION
A simple guide to being green. Green tips you can incorporate today and the reasons for implementing them.TRANSCRIPT
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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!