Making your home green – where to start*

There is so much information going around now about going green. We hear it in so many different places and in so many different ways – it can get a little overwhelming. So I’ve tried to simplify and make a list of where to start inside and outside of your home to get going with a green lifestyle. The list is in no particular order – just all good things.

1. Replace the lightbulbs. This one is obvious and easy to do, and will save you a bit of money on your power bill. Chances are you’ve been buying the cheapest bulbs at the store, but their lifespan is usually terrible. The kind you will want to buy are ‘compact fluorescent light bulbs’. They cost a few dollars more, but you’ll save a lot in the end. For more in depth info, look at this Lowe’s light bulb buying guide.

2. Replace your shower head and faucets with low flow versions. This is a great way to save money on water bills, and you don’t have to pay very much for the fixtures. Some people think that low flow means barely any water pressure, but you can find faucets and shower heads that don’t sacrifice any pressure, while still saving water. If you want to go even further, there are toilets that save on water too, although you may have to pay a bit more to replace those. Before you make your decision on which ones to buy, look at this Consumer Reports appliance rating page from the Utah Division of Water Resources.

3. That last link also had reviews of washers, which brings me to the next point. If you are buying appliances for a new home, or you have enough money to replace existing appliances, Buy Energy-Star appliances. You can find them everywhere now, and they’ll save you 10%-30% on your bills. Refrigerators, air conditioners, furnaces, water heaters – they all come in energy efficient models. Also remember to have furnaces and heaters checked every few years to make sure they’re running their best. Change the filters often too. Here is another link to a really good page that will guide you through energy efficient appliances: Lowe’s Energy-Star informational page.

4. Eliminate the drafts. Heating or cooling will decrease energy efficiency if there are drafts or air leaks in the house. Air leaks in windows can be remedied with caulk and weather stripping. The front door might also have problems, in which case you may need a door blower test to find any cracks that are letting out air. In addition, make sure your insulation is sufficient, especially if you own an older home. Many older homes don’t have insulation in the attic, so start there. In sum, any spots in the home where you feel air might be getting in or out, should be looked at and fixed.

Moving outdoors:

5. Xeriscape some of your yard. Xeriscaping saves a lot of water by removing moisture sucking grasses and plants and planting native water-wise plants. Most people love at least a little grass – I do too – but it’s not necessary in every corner of your yard. Many people have opted for water-wise plants in their parking strips or in front yards where there is not a lot of use for the grass. By cutting down on grass, you save water, gas from the lawn mower, and time used up by mowing.

And before you get the idea that your yard wouldn’t look as beautiful without all that grass and water-sucking plant life, look here at some Utah water conservation gardens and see how nice it really can look.

6. Plant a shade tree. This will protect your home from some wind and will cool it in the summer. This is kind of a sore subject for me since the house my parents live in in South Jordan had a huge Cottonwood shade tree for 25+ years until last winter when they had to cut it down. It was a sad day because I love shade trees. I think you would too.

7. Don’t turn on the sprinklers in the middle of a hot day, or right after it has rained. How many times do you see sprinklers spraying away on a 100 degree day in the middle of the afternoon? Instead, turn them on at night when the water won’t all evaporate instantly. And if it rained nicely the day before, there’s no need for the sprinklers.

That’s all I can think of right now, but let me know if you can think of anything else. For more help with any of the indoor stuff, there are great people at Lowe’s who know a lot. For the outdoors, you won’t find more knowledgeable people than those at Red Butte Garden and Cactus and Tropicals.

*My service doesn’t stop here! In addition to maintaining The Salt Lake City Utah Real Estate Blog, I also help people buy and sell homes in Utah. When you need help with either of these, contact me!

Tags: Green Utah homes,going green,xeriscape,water wise plants,energy efficiency

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Xeriscaping in Utah – some sources*

Yesterday morning I was mowing the lawn at a listing of mine (they’re family – I’m not THAT full service), and I was thinking of how nice it would be if the yard were xeriscaped. Just as I finished, it started to rain. Then just after that, the sprinklers came on at a house down the street, which again made me think of xeriscaping and how much water they would save.

I am seriously considering this at my next place. I have noticed some Japanese garden themed xeriscapes and I absolutely love them. Japanese maples are a favorite of mine, and I couldn’t plant enough of them. There is a growing number of homes around where I live that have done really great xeriscaping work to their yards. My wife and I like to take walks and gather ideas, so we immediately notice if anyone has made a change like this to their yard.

Through asking around, I found a good xeriscaping resource for Salt Lake City in www.xeriscapedesign.com. This site has good before and after pictures so you can visualize what your yard might look like if it were transformed. Another good site about xeriscaping and Utah plants in general is www.ut.nrcs.usda.gov/plants.html. If you want to know more than just how to hire someone to xeriscape your yard then you should explore that site.

And finally, the people at Red Butte Garden know what they’re doing; just go take a look at their garden and you’ll me amazed. This is why you should sign up for a class there, so you can learn from the pros.

*My service doesn’t stop here! In addition to maintaining The Salt Lake City Utah Real Estate Blog, I also help people buy and sell homes in Utah. When you need help with either of these, contact me!

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