By pcrowley
REMAX Alliance Group is one of the first real estate companies in the country to demonstrate a commitment to green business practices as well as promoting green home ownership in Southwest Florida. Alliance Group has a commitment to the environment through an implementation of green practices in all of its business operations & the promotion of Florida Green Certified homes.
With the BP oil spill in the gulf it has made us all think a little more about energy conservation and protecting our environment. Being Green is the smart thing to do and you can start doing your part now with 10 simple tips to make your home a little more green.
10 Tips to a Greener Home
- Appliances. Updating your home’s appliances to Energy Star Qualified appliances could save you as much as $150 per year in energy costs. Appliance usage makes up 18% of a household energy bill and the newer, EPA approved appliances use 10% - 50% less energy and water than older models.
- Heating/Cooling. Our warm climate on Florida’s west coast results in air conditioners running most of the year and as a result, almost half of a home’s energy consumption is from heating and cooling. Keeping your thermostat set at 68 degrees and cooler in the winter and 78 degrees and warmer in the summer saves 3% - 5% in energy. A programmable thermostat helps maintain these temperatures.
- Water. With an annual dry season, water conservation on Florida’s suncoast is a must. There are several ways to conserve water in your household. Using an aerator on all faucets can cut annual water consumption by 50% and a low flow toilet uses only 1.6 gallons per flush, compared to 3.5 gallons used in older models. Also changing water usage habits help as well; turning off the water when you brush your teeth will save 4.5 gallons of water each time.
- Cleaning. Use cleaning supplies that have eco-friendly, rather than toxic ingredients. Read labels and look for products that contain grain alcohol rather than toxic butyl cello solve (window cleaners) and plant oils rather than petroleum (detergents).
- Lighting. Replace your incandescent light bulbs with Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs) that use 66% less energy and last up to 10 times longer. This change alone can also save you $30 in energy costs over the life of the bulb.
- Paper. Look for greeting cards, toilet paper and many other paper products that are made “tree-free” with 100% post-consumer recycled paper or unbleached paper (the bleaching process creates harmful byproducts).
- Flooring. Instead of hardwood floors that use woods from trees that take 50 - 100 years to mature, use bamboo which replenishes itself rather quickly, maturing in 4 - 6 years. Also look for products and installations that use glue that does not contain formaldehyde.
- Plastic. The processing and burning of petroleum-made plastics is considered one of the main contributors to global warming. Polyethylene plastic grocery bags and water bottles filling up our landfills increase greenhouse gasses. Bring re-usable cloth bags with you to the stores and ditch the plastic water bottles for refillable bottles.
- Paint. According to the EPA, conventional paints contain solvents, toxic metals and volatile organic compounds that are released into the air while you’re painting, while the paint dries and even after the paint is dry that cause smog, ozone pollution and indoor air quality problems. Most paint manufacturers now offer zero or minimally toxic paint options.
- Gardening. Use compost for fertilization which provides all of the soil organisms and nutrients needed for healthy soil without the chemicals in synthetic commercial fertilizers. Healthy soil also minimizes the growth of weeds, which in turn prevents pest problems, reducing the need to control both. Better methods include using organic pest control products including diatomaceous earth to kill insects, using beer to bait slugs and pouring boiling water on weeds. Also, use native plants in your landscaping as much as possible because they need less water and attention.
REMAX Alliance Group is a Certified Green Business Partner, offering a Certified Green Team of Agents whose expertise in eco-friendly real estate assist buyers and sellers who value homes that are energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.
Peter Crowley’s Experience
* President/Broker
RE/MAX Alliance Group
(Real Estate industry)
April 2003 ? Present (7 years 2 months)
Operating a full service real estate company offering real estate brokerage, mortgage and title services. The #1 RE/MAX office in Florida for the last 13 years - come work with the best.
* Associate
Dooley & Drake, P.A.
(Law Practice industry)
2002 ? 2003 (1 year )
* Marketing Director
Gershman B
A Coventry Hills home evaluation for your Calgary real estate is the best choice for you
By Dave Tyler
Coventry Hills in Calgary is one of the most sought after places to live in the state. Established in 1991 as a neighborhood, Coventry Hills is one of the hottest properties to buy and sell. The population of the neighborhood is small and discrete and it is the perfect place to stay if you want peace and quiet. If you have a Calgary real estate that you want to sell, it is best to have Coventry Hills home evaluations done so that you get the best price out of your property.
When you want Coventry Hills home evaluations done for your Calgary real estate, you must approach someone who is a professional. A professional will consider various aspects of your property and have the evaluation done perfectly. After the evaluation is done and you know the value of your property, you will find it easier to quote the starting price for it. Some people dont bother about doing their property evaluation done and as a result they end up quoting higher or lower than what the actual value of the property is. Since you dont want either of the situations, you should have the evaluation done.
A professional doing Coventry Hills home evaluations for your Calgary real estate will consider multiple aspects of your property when doing the valuation. First and foremost, the size of the property and its age will be considered. The interior designing as well as the quality of materials used in constructing the property will also be considered. Additional aspects like the number of bedrooms (including the master bedroom) and bathrooms (including the fact whether there is an attached bathroom or not) and other special rooms are also considered. You will get a better valuation when the property is in good condition and has some acreage around it. Swimming pools also fetch better value.
Since Coventry Hill is a sought after neighborhood, you should have a better valuation than properties in other parts of Calgary. The price of Calgary real estate varies from neighborhood to neighborhood and your Coventry Hills home evaluations will definitely value your property on a higher scale. Coventry Hill has a good social area including schools, parks, shopping and business centers. Even the rate of employment in the neighborhood should give your property a better value.
So, what are you waiting for? Get a professional to do your Coventry Hills home evaluations done for your Calgary real estate and see the fine price that you can command in the market. Even if you dont know an evaluator you can use the Internet to find a professional who does this job. At a very affordable cost you will have the best evaluation done for your property. And when you have your property evaluated by a professional you will also attract good buyers because of the professionally confirmed value that you are quoting.
Coventry Hills home evaluations for your Calgary real estate is the best way to have your property valued and sold. Go for it now and reap the benefits.
Are you looking to sell your Calgary real estate ? Get Coventry Hills home evaluations done and quote the best asking price for your property.
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