Going Green - What does it mean?

Everything seems to be "going green" these days- from cars, to companies, to coffee. However, sometimes it can be hard to tell what that really means, especially when it comes to your current or future home.

What does Building Green Mean?

Building green means incorporating environmental considerations and resource efficiency into every step of the home building and land development process to minimize environmental impact. During the design, construction, and operation of a home, energy and water efficiency, lot development, resource efficient building design and materials, indoor environmental quality and homeowner maintenance should all be considered. Although we cannot entirely avoid affecting the environment when a house or commercial strip mall is built, green building can work toward minimizing the environmental impact.

For Our Residential customers here are some tips you can do now to help save on your electric bills:

Seal Up Your Home

• Insulate! Check the attic, outside walls, walls next to unheated areas, floors above unheated areas, foundation walls. We recommend R-38 (about 12 inches) in ceilings and R-19 (about 6 inches) in floors over unheated spaces
• Insulate ducts where they run through cold areas
• Install storm windows and doors or use plastic sheeting
• Weather strip and caulk! Check for drafts around windows, door frames, foundation cracks, electrical outlets, etc.
• Don’t block radiators and vents (including cold air returns) with furniture, drapes or rugs
• Insulated attics need proper ventilation so they can ‘breathe'

Maintain Electrical Equipment

• Maintain your heating and cooling system by replacing air filters often and doing regular maintenance
• Buy energy efficient appliances and use them efficiently
• Clean dust and lint away from appliances (heating/cooling unit, refrigerators, hot water heaters, etc.) on a regular basis so the motors run more efficiently
• When choosing new appliances, base your decision on what your needs are - don’t buy something too big for your needs
• Consider moving your extra refrigerator or freezer out of the garage to the basement and your appliance won’t have to work so hard to stay cool
• Make sure gaskets on the doors of refrigerators and stoves are tight

Live An Energy-Efficient Lifestyle

• Light only the area where you are working, not the whole room
• Turn off lights and appliances when they are not being utilized
• Close vents and door in rooms that are not used on a regular basis
• Run full loads in dishwashers and washing machines
• Choose stove burner to fit the size of the pan you are using

During Cold Weather:

• Open window shades that receive direct sunlight during the day
• Close shades at night
• Set the thermostat at 68 degrees and lower the setting a few degrees at night, or when home is unoccupied
• Wear layers of clothing and use extra blankets
• Keep fireplace chimney dampers closed when not using the fireplace

During Hot Weather:

• Leave window shades that receive direct sunlight down during the day
• Try to use the oven, dishwasher and other appliances that produce heat during the late evening and early morning
• Set the thermostat no lower than 78 degrees and turn it up a few degrees when the house is unoccupied
• Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes
• Keep fireplace chimney dampers closed