So, just what is Energy Star?

About ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.

Results are already adding up. Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved enough energy in 2007 alone to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 27 million cars — all while saving $16 billion on their utility bills.

For the Home

Energy efficient choices can save families about a third on their energy bill with similar savings of greenhouse gas emissions, without sacrificing features, style or comfort. ENERGY STAR helps you make the energy efficient choice.

• If looking for new household products, look for ones that have earned the ENERGY STAR. They meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the EPA and US Department of Energy.
• If looking for a new home, look for one that has earned the ENERGY STAR.
• If looking to make larger improvements to your home, EPA offers tools and resources to help you plan and undertake projects to reduce your energy bills and improve home comfort.

The best source for Energy Star products:

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.

Recycling CFLs just got easier

In light of the fact that the recent post I did on the inherent hazardous waste associated with CFLs generated so many phone calls and emails to me, I thought it was time to turn you on to a new program I recently discovered.

Osram Sylvania, Viola Environmental Services and the U.S. Postal Service have grouped together to help recycle CFLs (compact fluorescent light bulbs). Though considered the perfect alternative to incandescent light bulbs thanks to the fact that they save energy and last longer, CFLs do have small amounts of mercury in them, and mercury is a hazardous substance. The problem is figuring out what to do with them when they are no longer good.

Thanks to the above mentioned team effort, the benefits of using CFLs just got significantly greater. Although you have to buy the containers from Sylvania, the price includes shipping and disposal. And all you do is follow the instructions to carefully box them up and drop them off at the post office. With many different sizes available, even up to the 4' long bulbs, it's a can't lose, safe way to approach the world of CFLs, knowing that they are safely disposed of and practically the entire bulb and its components are recycled.
For more information, visit www.sylvania.com/recycle.

How to buy a GREEN home

You have decided to join the fast-growing trend of eco-friendly living and want to purchase a green home. As with so many “green” products currently available, from organic milk to hybrid cars, it’s tough to know if the house you’d like to buy is good for the environment. So how do you determine what makes a house green?

Going Green: Where to Start

The first step is ensuring that the house is built to standard. “Find out if the builder is a member of his or her local home-building association’s green building program,” advises Calli Baker Schmidt, director of environmental communications, National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). NAHB’s Web site (www.nahb.org) is a good resource for this information and features an outline of new home-building green standards, which include: energy, water, and resource efficiency; lot and site development; indoor air quality; global impact; and homeowner education.

Next, contact an EcoBroker®, who can help you find homes that have passed the proper qualifications to be considered green (www.ecobroker.com). An EcoBroker® has undergone specialized training and is knowledgeable in green home standards and can answer your questions. “The EcoBroker® designation allows me to better understand the issues and to convey this understanding to my clients,” asserts Catharine Bramkamp, a certified EcoBroker® with Century 21 Classic Properties, Rohnert Park. An EcoBroker® can also help you find lenders that have cost-saving mortgages for energy-efficient homes.

Want a third opinion? You can get an unbiased evaluation from Build It Green (www.builditgreen.org). This independent, non-profit organization has GreenPoint raters that monitor construction from start to finish for green-certified verification. Another way is to do some research yourself. Online sites such as Home Depot’s eco-friendly product guide (www.homedepot.com/ecooptions) are easy to use and can help you understand the ENERGY STAR label given to appliances.

Buying eco-friendly products is a growing trend with no end in sight. With escalating energy costs, new homes are definitely seeing a surge in building “green”: By the end of 2007, more than half of NAHB’s members had incorporated green practices into the development, design, and construction of new homes.

Ways to Green a Home

• Use Energy Star Appliances
Energy Star products meet strict energy-efficiency guidelines set by the EPA and the Department of Energy and use less energy than conventional products.

• Install Low-VOC Materials
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are compounds that vaporize at room temperature and contribute to pollution. Installing low-VOC carpets and natural wood flooring helps reduce these emissions.

• Use OSB Wood or Recycled Wood
Oriented-strand board (OSB) is an engineered wood product that can be used on sheathe roofs and walls, reducing the need to cut down trees.

• Replace Light Bulbs with CFLs
Note: These bulbs contain mercury and must be disposed of properly and require special precautions in the event they break.

• Install Solar Paneling

• Add Energy-Efficiency Windows
Low-emittance glass-coated windows can reduce the heat inside your home during the summer and keep it in during the winter.

• Plant Native Vegetation
Native plants not only are easier to maintain, but also reduce the need to water and fertilize as much compared with non-native plants.

Michelle D. Alderson is a freelance writer. (Reprinted from California Association of Realtors magazine)

Understanding CFL mercury content and disposal

The debate over the eco-friendliness of compact fluorescent lights (CFL’s) has garnered a lot of media attention lately, largely due to the bulbs' mercury content and the fate of all that mercury once it winds up in landfills or if the bulbs get broken inside a home. In actuality, the amount of mercury in CFLs is relatively small, approximately 5 milligrams (mg), which is roughly equivalent to the mercury in two cans of albacore tuna. Older mercury-based thermometers contained about 500 mg.

Nonetheless, because you're still exposed to even a modicum of mercury through the use of CFL’s, there are a number of measures you should exercise in the unfortunate event that one breaks in your home. "Most mercury in CFL’s is in solid and vapor form," says Mark Kohorst, senior manager of environment, health and safety at the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA). To avoid inhaling mercury vapors if a bulb does break, the EPA advises opening a window as soon as possible and leaving the room for at least 15 minutes before starting to clean. Once you start:

• Never allow children or pregnant women near the spill area.

• Always wear rubber gloves; you should never touch mercury with your bare hands.

• Remove all metal jewelry, which might attract mercury magnetically.

• If the bulb breaks on hard flooring, use a piece of stiff paper to scoop up the broken glass and powder. Avoid using a broom that could stir up dust.

• Damp mop hard surfaces to pick up any remaining dust.

• If the bulb breaks on carpeting, use sticky tape to pick up the powder, dust and smaller pieces of glass. Vacuuming could disturb the dust and pose an inhalation risk.

• Afterwards, shine a flashlight to double check the area for missed spots.

• Seal all the rags, paper and tape, as well as the light bulb remains, in a plastic bag. Double bag it, and dispose at a household hazardous waste site. See www.earth911.org for one in your neighborhood.

• Wash your hands well and leave the room.

• Leave the window open and turn on a fan to air out the room for at least 24 to 48 hours.

• If you've touched mercury or are concerned about your exposure, call the Poison Control Center at 800-222-1222.

Because they contain so little mercury, broken bulbs usually don't need to be cleaned up professionally. Broken or not, all spent CFLs should be taken to household hazardous waste sites (you can find one near your home at www.earth911.org) or recycled. "Unless recycled—which is required by law in some jurisdictions—CFLs are typically either disposed in landfills or fed to municipal waste incinerators," says Kohorst. While landfills may be lined to prevent the release of mercury into groundwater, incinerators can release a bulb's mercury into the atmosphere.

Encourage retailers who sell CFLs to institute take-back and recycling programs similar to those initiated for electronics. Currently, Ikea is the only retailer who both sells CFLs and accepts them for recycling, but NEMA sponsors a recycling program through www.lamprecycle.org. For other CFL recyclers in your area, visit www.earth911.org.

To reduce potential mercury exposure even further, seek out lower-mercury lighting such as Philips ALTO Technology fluorescent bulbs, which contain between 2 and 3 mg of mercury; Philips 16W A-Shape Alto bulb ($10.50; www.blackenergy.com).

Seven ways to save water at home

The sun is out, the torrential winter storms are becoming a distant memory, and all eyes are on spring and summer. And yet even though our reservoirs are at healthy levels, it is still critically important that we strive to restrict our water usage to allow for future years that will invariably bring us less water than our county will need. In light of this I felt it important to point out that with just a few small changes in your home, you can cut your water bill by half. And so, without further ado, here are the top seven ways to reduce your water consumption:

1. Low-flow faucets and showerheads

Low-flow faucets have a flow rate of 1.5 to 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm), compared to 2.5 to 5 gpm for standard faucets. For showerheads, select models that use 2.5 gpm or less. Some showerheads manufactured before 1992 had flow rates of up to 5.5 gpm, so if you have one of these older models in your home, consider switching to a newer version. You could save 20 to 25 gallons of water per shower.

2. Low-flush toilets

More and more manufacturers are offering low flow toilets - some equipped with dual flushing mechanisms and others with pressure assisted systems. Kohler’s Power Lite toilets, for instance, allow users to select either a normal 1.4-gallon flush or a super-low 1.0-gallon flush, so you never use more water than you need. Kohler notes that the toilet can save 2,000 gallons of water a year. Sloan’s FLUSHMATE pressure assisted technology can be found inside toilets from all leading manufacturers. The newest FLUSHMATE IV uses less than 1.0 gallon per flush without sacrificing performance and saves up to 45% more water than conventional technologies, according to the manufacturer.

3. Hot water recirculator

For a hot shower, you first have to displace the water that’s gone cold in the pipe — between 1 and 5 gallons — which heads right down the drain. To prevent cold-water dumping, you can install a recirculating pump, which will rapidly pull hot water from the water heater while simultaneously sending cooled-off water from the hot-water lines back to the water heater. In addition to having the convenience of hot water on-demand, the system conserves water and saves energy. A typical system costs less than $400 to install.

4. High-efficiency appliances

The EnergyStar label is the gold standard for efficient energy use among appliances, but the designation also indicates water-efficiency for dishwashers and washing machines. The Energy Star-rated Whirlpool Gold Super Capacity Tall Tub Dishwasher, for instance, uses just 6 gallons per cycle, not 12 to 14 like older models, and its soil sensors ensure that wash cycles use less water if dishes aren’t as dirty.

5. Rainwater collection system

Using a non-asphalt roof as a catchment area, a rainwater collection system funnels water into a cistern, then sends it through a series of micron filters and an ultraviolet bath to kill bacteria. Instead of spending money on a water bill, homeowners simply pay for the electricity needed to pump water from their cistern into their home’s regular plumbing system. Even a brief rain event on a 2,000-square-foot roof surface can add 650 gallons to the cistern.

6. Zoned irrigation controllers

While indoor water use has been dropping since the early 1990s, outdoor residential water use has climbed to 50 to 70 percent of total water demand. The biggest sponge is your lawn. To control the amount of water you use outside, consider investing in a multi-function timer that can be programmed to water different zones, like trees, shrubs, flower beds and turf. Changing your irrigation schedule with each season also will reduce overwatering and runoff.

7. Lawn humidity sensors

Another way to prevent overwatering is to install a relative humidity sensor, like the WeatherMiser, from Weathermiser Energy Efficiency Corp. It monitors humidity and evaporation and electronically interrupts your sprinkler cycle if moist conditions render watering unnecessary. A more high-tech version is the WeatherTRAK system, which has a controller that receives up-to-the-minute satellite data on weather conditions for your area. It then adjusts its irrigation of your landscape accordingly.

What are carbon offsets and what can you do at home to reduce your carbon footprint

Carbon offsets are really quite simple. We are all responsible for carbon dioxide emissions in some way or another, whether it’s through our driving, heating and cooling of our homes, cutting the lawn, or watching TV. Carbon offsets represent the act of reducing an equal amount of carbon somewhere else to counterbalance the carbon emissions from your energy-using activities (called your “carbon footprint"). In essence, carbon offsets enable you to reduce your climate footprint by supporting projects anywhere in the world that reduce carbon dioxide emissions to balance out your own carbon footprint, thus you become carbon neutral.

Getting to Carbon Neutral

While most people can reduce their energy use by improving the efficiency of their homes, buying cars that get better gas mileage and making assorted other changes, changes, reducing it to zero through individual actions is nearly impossible. Carbon offsets are a cost effective way to reduce the remainder of one’s climate footprint.

Ideas for Reducing Your Carbon Footprint at Home

* Programmable thermostat – Costs about $50 or less and will save you that much or more in the first year.
* Weatherstripping and Caulking – Costs almost nothing while reducing your energy use, reducing drafts, and improving comfort.
* Lighting – Utilizing Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) whenever possible can save you more than 2/3rds of the energy of a regular incandescent bulb. In fact, each CFL can save $40 or more over its lifetime.
* Heating and Cooling - Keep your heating/cooling system tuned up and checked annually for efficiency, and replace filters every two months When the time comes to replace your system, do your research and ask for ENERGY STAR.
* Insulation – Weatherstripping, caulking, and insulation all work together to save a great deal of energy, improve the comfort of your home, make it quieter and save you money as well.
* Showerheads – Replace older showerheads with low-flow fixtures to reduce your water and power bill.
* Appliances – Always pay attention to the total lifetime cost including energy, not just the price tag. Look for the ENERGY STAR label (check out energystar.gov).
* Bigger isn’t always better - Just get the size you need. Also, do you really need that freezer or extra fridge in your basement?
* Electronics – Likewise, look for the ENERGY STAR label whenever shopping for new appliances. And remember to turn everything completely off at night. Better yet, plug everything into a power strip that can be turned off completely so the passive drain is nil.
* Windows – These can be expensive, but when it’s time to replace them, make sure they are ENERGY STAR rated, double-pane of course
* Solar Energy – We love solar, but be it solar, wind, or any other type of alternative energy source, make sure you reduce your energy load first in all other ways to keep your costs down.

If you’d like to know how you can reduce your carbon footprint where you currently are and live a carbon neutral life, please contact me to discuss ways to easily and affordably reduce your climate footprint to zero. I can be reached at 415.307.0505, or jmarks@pacunion.com.

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Why Go Green as a Homeowner

A decade ago most people associated environmentally-sound home building with unsightly solar panels and bad water pressure. That's no longer a worry.

Today the majority of houses that meet the U.S. Green Building Council definition of a "green" home - one that uses less energy, less natural resources and fewer toxic chemicals - are indistinguishable from their traditionally constructed neighbors. And any counter cultural philosophical baggage is long gone as well.

As with hybrid cars and organic food, interest in eco-friendly building and renovating has spilled over to the mainstream. "We're seeing a lot of demand, particularly on the high end of the market," says Jerry Howard, CEO of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

And some 90 percent of people surveyed by the American Institute of Architects in 2006 said they'd be willing to pay $5,000 more to build or buy a house that would use less energy or protect the earth.

"Green is the new black," quips Maggie Wood, an environmental designer in Jamesport, N.Y.

Of course, environmental consciousness comes at a premium. Green construction techniques and sustainable building materials can add anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few hundred thousand dollars.

Whether that extra cost makes sense for you in the long run depends in large part on what you hope to get out of a green home in the first place.

Why go green?

Homeowners and buyers have all kinds of reasons, although these, alone and in combination, tend to be the most common:

You can save energy - and money Given the astronomical rise in fuel prices in the past few years, it's no surprise that energy efficiency is the top reason consumers choose green building these days.

Traditionally constructed homes, while far more energy-efficient than those built in past decades, can still squander a mind-boggling amount of fossil fuel. The typical house loses 15 percent to 20 percent of its heat or air-conditioning leakage from ducts alone, according to Energy Star, a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Energy-conscious construction can significantly reduce that waste. Some of the savings come from materials that provide extra thermal resistance, such as straw-bale construction and insulated concrete forms. More can come from designs that maximize exposure to winter sun and minimize summer heat.

Green builders and remodelers also favor energy-efficient appliances and water-conserving fixtures. Energy savings from all these techniques usually pay for their higher up-front costs in two to seven years, says Elliot Johnson, an Austin architect specializing in this type of design.

Solar power is a different story. Alex Wilson, author of "Your Green Home," explains that panels are expensive to install and take years to recoup their costs in electricity savings. "If you've done everything else you can to conserve energy, then it makes sense to look into generating your own power."

You can save your lungs Compared with outdoor air, indoor air can be two to five times more polluted, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

A major cause: volatile organic compounds (VOCs) commonly found in paints, stains and glues. When these products dry, they release chemicals and continue to do so for years. This can exacerbate allergies and asthma, and cause headaches and nausea.

As a preventive measure, some homeowners opt for "low VOC" paint, natural stains and formaldehyde-free glue, which generally cost a few dollars more per container.

Providing adequate ventilation can also improve air quality. "Years ago the air would turn over naturally because houses were so poorly insulated, but today houses are so tightly sealed that you need to circulate fresh air," says Jeff Wassenaar, president of Legacy Homes, which built the Josephs' house.

One solution: adding a mechanical ventilation system, which can run between $500 and $2,000.

You can help save the planet The final reason you might choose this type of construction is less practical and more philosophical: You want to leave the smallest footprint you can on the planet.

That means planning construction to minimize the waste of building materials; reducing water consumption by adding low-volume toilets or rainwater filtration systems; and working with products that are sustainable (wool carpeting, bamboo flooring, cotton insulation) or recycled (salvaged wood, steel made with reused rebar, insulation made from paper products).

Will it pay off?

If you were to build a house as green as you possibly could, it might cost you 20 percent to 30 percent more than traditional construction. But that would imply an extreme sense of environmental duty.

"Most of our projects cost between 2 percent and 4 percent more than standard construction," says Wassenaar.

There are also some significant tax credits available on the state and federal level that may help pay for improvements. You can claim a credit of up to $500 on your 1040 for installing energy-efficient windows, insulation, doors, roofs, boilers and air conditioners, for example. (Log on to ase.org and click on Consumers for more on this.)

Before you invest in these, however, you might want to consider whether your monthly utility savings and any tax breaks will pay for the added cost in a reasonable amount of time. Assuming a $400,000 house with a 6.5 percent, 30-year fixed-rate loan and $80,000 down, your monthly payment would be $2,022. Add $10,000 of energy-efficient features to that and your payment goes to $2,085.

For you to cover the higher mortgage payment and recoup the up-front costs in seven years, your monthly energy savings would have to be $182. Add $20,000 and your payment goes to $2,149 - and you'd need to save $365 monthly.

In terms of resale value, green homes have come a long way. These days most do not telegraph their eco-friendly features; from the outside they look like any other house on the block. You won't necessarily get a huge premium for your abode's environmentalism, says John Bredemeyer, president of appraisal company Realcorp in Omaha, "but it will likely sell at the upper end of the range and quicker," as it will have something more going for it than an equivalent traditional construction.

Where to go for more information

"There are many contractors who say they do green but don't know what they're doing," says Johnson. To make sure that you're not getting a builder who's "green" on the concept:

Contact a local or regional green building group These organizations can be found at usgbc.org/leed/homes. They can connect you with environmental architects and builders and inform you about techniques that work well in your climate, as well as tax credits offered in your area.

Ask contractors about the criteria the follow Then request a copy of the guidelines to make sure you know what you're in for. The U.S. Green Building Council, whose LEED rating is the gold standard for commercial green building, plans to launch a residential rating program this summer.

Meanwhile, the NAHB publishes guidelines (available at nahb.org, under Publications) that cover everything from lot preparation to water conservation; many local organizations also rate homes on a checklist of practices.

Ask to see examples of their work And talk to the homeowners to see how happy they are with the results. Most are eager to show off their home's earth-friendly features.

By Sarah Max, Money Magazine contributing writer