Green Neighborhoods

There are many great ways to lower your electric bill and help the environment at the same time. There are several different things you can do to your home that will help make it more environmentally friendly and energy efficient.

One of the first things you want to do is check for energy leaks. Any place in your home that allows any air to come in or out is an energy leak. Make sure that all windows and doors have a good seal to them and that your home is well insulated.

Lower your thermostats on your air conditioning and / or heating. It is recommended that you keep your heat set at 68 degrees F or lower for the winter while keeping your air conditioning thermostat set at 78 degrees F or higher in the summer.

Use the compact fluorescent bulbs throughout your home. These bulbs are not only cheaper to operate but they are much better for our environment. Make the switch from incandescent light bulbs to fluorescent bulbs and you will see a difference in your electric bill.

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Environmental responsibility is in the hands of everyone. Businesses and communities are equally accountable for the health of the environment and there are some ways that some collaboration can take place that will help all involved. Just three little things can take place where businesses and neighborhoods can really make a positive difference.

Communities can work on a large scale recycling effort, and re-direct the proceeds to the specific needs of those who need assistance. Sponsoring large scale recycling, and large item pick-up on a monthly basis can generate revenue to maintain community centers, parks, and common areas that all (more…)

Every community can make a low cost investment to promote green living and an eco friendly area where everyone can enjoy time together. With the help of volunteers, green projects are easy to create. Create something for the whole community by planting trees in a local park bearing fruit or nuts. Once ripe and ready to pick, everyone is welcome to a share of the bounty. Apple trees, almond trees, pecan trees, and orange trees can help provide much needed food or even fresh fruit for the local schools.

Choose an empty piece of ground within the community and (more…)

Making your business more Green is very important to the overall health of the surrounding environment. Without a healthy environment, our own survival is in jeopardy, which makes it imperative that we find efficient and effective ways of making our businesses greener.

One of the most effective ways of making your business greener is through recycling, which vastly limits the amount of waste that the environment must absorb through landfills, etc. It costs business owners a hefty fee to dump their (more…)

Is your town or city looking a little bland lately? Office buildings and chain stores can easily overtake formerly vibrant areas. Replanting trees in your community is a great way to bring back some color while also offering other benefits. Trees can help minimize the effects of urban heat islands (UHIs), metropolitan areas that show significantly higher temperatures than nearby rural areas. Just a few new trees can also help combat air pollution and raise property values in the neighborhood, while encouraging inhabitants to spend more time outside.There are several locally-based programs in cities around America dedicated to planting trees. Trees for Tucson in Arizona, Replant Neighborhood Trees in Philadelphia, Forest ReLeaf in St. Louis, and MillionTreesNYC are just a few examples of communities that have taken it upon themselves to improve their natural surroundings. The national Alliance for Community Trees helps promote the same agenda in urban areas around the country. (more…)

Everyone likes to be recognized for a job well done, whether it’s passing a difficult test or finally finishing that novel they’ve been working on. In the case of completing a green building project, the reward is inherent in completing the project. Successfully finishing a sustainable construction project can mean everything from economic advantages to improved health for the occupants. Nevertheless, some organizations still recognize the best of the best with annual awards.The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) hosts the National Green Building Awards, “honoring excellence in green residential design, construction practices, and outstanding green advocacy efforts.” The organization recognizes at least two winners for Advocate of the Year, with at least one from the Builder, Remodeler, Individual, Group, and HBA categories and another in State or Local Government. In addition, NAHB names the Green Project(s) of the Year (Single-Family, Remodel, Multi-family) and the Green Site Development of the Year. (more…)