Realtor Michele Bee Goes "GREEN and Top 10 Green Boomers!

Realtor Goes "GREEN" and Top 10 Green Boomers!

So I just attended the National Association of Realtors (NAR) Convention and it was outstanding! I was completing the NAR GREEN designation course the first of its kind offered by NAR. All about sustainable housing, energy efficiency, new urbanism, top 10 green mistakes that we make, greening our businesses, greening residential real estate and commercial real estate. Most people do not even know that they can get a green mortgage these days and that the tax benefits are terrific!
If you are getting ready to purchase a home contact me for information on which lenders offer energy efficiency/green mortgages! My home buyer team will be there for you from beginning to end!
Tip of the Week: Next time you order business cards go through a printer that uses soy ink and recyclable paper for your business cards!
We can all be green...start small...don't get overwhelmed...figure out which bin is which for recycling...that was a big start in my house! We had them backwards and now it is fixed. I think our trash guys were very cool and did the right thing with our bottles and newspapers.
Another great idea is greening up your office. Start with lights and recycling paper. Lets face it...Realtors are the worst when it comes to printing out tons and tons of paper.
Leonardo Decaprio has a great movie out called the "11th Hour" and everyone should check this out!
Top 10 Baby Boomers that are GREEN...I wonder who will be next?
1. Al Gore
2. Blythe Danner
3. Newt Gingrich
4. Bono
5. Oprah Winfrey
6. Arnold Schwarzenegger
7. Daryl Hannah
8. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
9. George Clooney
10. Pittsburgh Pirates owner Bob Nutting

Follow the Eco Bee to Greener Pastures!

Michele Bee

Gifting Green in a Economic Decline

Well the holiday ads are upon us...I saw the train coming down that holiday track today on QVC , and now I cannot get jingle bells out of my head. But it got me to thinking about what to do over the holidays and what kind of gifts I would be giving. One thing that I have begun doing is trying to use my "grocery" bags, which I am keeping in the car. I got the pink ones for breast cancer awareness month so it went to a good cause, plus I love the color pink! So one great choice could be reusable bags with your company logo on them.

One of the things that you can think about when purchasing a "green" gift is the life cycle or the way that product actually got to you or the retailer. How much did it cost to ship it, does it have packaging the can be recycled, and where was the product manufactured.

Businesses that do employee gift giving don't need to fret in this economy, there are great "green" affordable choices out there like organic candles, lotions and potions. Organic wines or monogrammed eco friendly towel sets...even a beautiful house plant (which is great for indoor air quality) makes a fabulous gift.

How about eco friendly gifts that can be purchased locally from retailers and artists vs being shipped to you (think about that...shipping product via ground or air uses gas and energy). By purchasing "green" gifts from local vendors you are also supporting your local economy. Recycled glass jewelry and solar flashlights are terrific gifts.

In this day and age, we all still love to get gifts, but now we can do them with a twist! A green twist that is!

Follow The "Eco" Bee to Greener Pastures!

http://www.michellebee.com/

Michele Bee

Can It Possibly Bee...Save Money By Not Flushing?

Now that I have your attention...yes, by not flushing every time you go potty, you can actually save up to 4.5 gallons...please do this in your home only!

Do you turn your water off when you brush your teeth? 2 minutes of running water=2 gallons of water down the drain...and money down the drain! Same goes for shaving!

If you have to pre rinse your dishes...turn on a slight flow, vs at full throttle! Again, saves you money and water.

And finally...what is a military shower anyway?

A military shower is when you turn the water off when you lather and then turn it on when you rinse and there are special faucets out there to accomodate that.

Another way is to use a low/high pressure method. Lather with a low pressure flow setting and rinse on a high flow setting. The temperature will remain constant as you make any of these flow changes.

Or you could lather on low, rinse on high, then bask on low.

Personally...being the busy bee that I am...I am pretty quick in the shower...summer camp flashback I suppose.

Or...shower for 2 anyone!

Following the Green Bee to Greener Pastures!

Michele Bee

http://www.michellebee.com/

What the Heck is Bamboo and How Can You Bee Green Using It?

Bamboo is the hot eco flooring of the moment. Just like Prada is to handbags, bamboo is becoming the chic choice for homeowners and builders that want to bee "green"!

While bamboo is considered to be a sustainable product, you should do your home work on where the bamboo is harvested, were any chemicals or pesticides used? What was involved in the shipping of the product? Is it formaldehyde-free?

These are questions that can be asked of any dealers that promote bamboo products that are being promoted as "green" or "eco" friendly. Can you buy from a local dealer vs overseas? Thus supporting your local "eco" business and economy. And goodness knows we need to support our local economy in today's market place!

What is Bamboo Anyway?

Bamboo is a rapidly renewable resource, a grass, that matures in three to five years. Using bamboo flooring in place of wood helps sustain forests by not using old growth woods. Bamboo can shoot up to by a foot per day where a tree can take take years to grow and then be considered mature. Plus trees help with global warming so why chop down a perfectly good tree when you can use bamboo instead?

Did You Know?

A grove of bamboo release 35% more oxygen than an equivalent stand of trees.

The thing about bamboo is that when the stalks are harvested, the root system remains, protecting against runoff and sprouting new growth...so you now get...that's right...big buzz word here...SUSTAINABILITY!!!

Bamboo flooring also earns builders a point with the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. And here is a shout out to those "green" builders!

So if you are beginning a new home, or remodeling your current home, perhaps you should look into bamboo as an alternative to wood or tile floors. Bamboo also decreases our carbon footprint...which I will blog about tomorrow!

Following the Green Bee to Greener Pastures!

Michele Bee

Save money in your home by getting Green!

Today's simple tips are easy to do...I have a short list of items that you can do in less than an hour!

Change out your light bulbs to energy efficient bulbs!

To save the most energy and money, replace your highest used fixtures or the light bulbs in them with energy-efficient models. The five highest use fixtures in a home are typically the kitchen ceiling lights, the living or family room table and floor lamps, and outdoor porch or post lamp. ENERGY STAR qualified lighting fixtures and replacement bulbs can be found at home improvement and hardware stores, lighting showrooms, and other retail stores, including on-line outlets.

Change the temperature setting on your water heater from 135-140 to 120 degrees!

Try not to hand wash dishes if you have a dishwasher...huge waste of water!
and lastly...

Get a programmable thermostat for you air conditioner/heating system. The average household spends more than $2,000 a year on energy bills — nearly half of which goes to heating and cooling. Homeowners can save about $180 a year by properly setting their programmable thermostats and maintaining those settings. The pre-programmed settings that come with ENERGY STAR qualified programmable thermostats are intended to deliver savings without sacrificing comfort.

Follow the Green Bee to Greener Pastures!

Michele Bee

http://www.michellebee.com/