The Green Page
Reasons To Plant Trees
Increase Your Home's Value--In any real estate market, having established trees is usually a big plus. If your home doesn't have any or many trees in its landscape, go ahead, plant some trees and enjoy what they have to offer you and your home.
Attract Wildlife--Offer food and shelter to an array of wildlife such as; birds, insects, bees and butterflies.
Add Privacy to Gardens--Make your own personal sanctuary no matter how big or small your lot size is.
Freshen the Air--Can actually reduce smog level up to 6 percent by removing dangerous toxins from the air.
Help Manage Runoff--Trees help give the soil time to absorb rainfall and recharge ground soil. There's less runoff and erosion to the ground with trees there to tend to the land.
Reduce Carbon--Trees breathe this in, use the carbon to build mass, then exhale oxygen! Amazing! Since carbon dioxide is a major greenhouse gas, it is a huge contributor to global warming. So, plant a tree to help offset your annual fuel consumption.
Save Engery--Natural cooling and heating source that helps conserve electricity by up to 25 percent dependent upon how the trees are placed and your climate.
Get Green on Home Energy Savings!
(Little things you can do to help your home and the enviroment)
1. Replace incandescent lightbulbs with compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs)
What it costs: $1–$20 each (quantity discounts available)
Why do it: CFLs use 70% less energy
2. Install an Energy Star[SPECIAL_CHAR {150}]rated programmable thermostat
What it costs: $29–$100
Why do it: Save up to 15% on heating and cooling bills and it typically repays for itself in about 1 year!
3. Employ "smart" power strips that use motion or power sensors
What it costs: $35–$50 each
Why do it: "Idle current" can account for 1%–2% of energy bills
4. Clean or replace furnace and air-conditioning filters
What it costs: $2–$20 each
Why do it: Clean filters can reduce heating/cooling costs by 1%–2%
5. Caulk and seal walls, ceilings, floors, windows, doors, and ductwork
What it costs: $10–$40 for caulking, weather-stripping, or mastic
Why do it: Eliminating drafts can save 5%–30% on heating costs
6. Insulate older water heaters and pipes
What it costs: $30–$45 for thermal blanket, pipe insulation, and tape
Why do it: Preventing heat loss can save 4%–9% on water-heating costs
7. Audit your home energy use with a DIY guide ([XLINK "http://energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=home_improvement.hm_improvement_audits" "energystar.gov" "" "_new"] or [XLINK "http://hes.lbl.gov/" "hes.lbl.gov" "" "_new"])
What it costs: $0
Why do it: Following the suggestions can cut your energy bill by 20%
Reduce, Recycle, Reuse, Rebuy
The four "R"s of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's GreenScapes program: Reduce, recycle, reuse and rebuy. You want to reduce your output of waste to ensure you're using materials efficiently. Reusing compost and tree clippings for mulch, or rainwater for watering take up little time and energy, but offer plenty of environmental bang for your buck. Recycling saves resources, while rebuying means seeking products that meet your needs, but are more environmentally friendly than your usual purchases—take, for instance, solar outdoor lighting versus electric-powered fixtures.
