Ames Green Realtor
It's a great time to find ways to live green. You can save money and save resources. If you have tips of your own that you would like to share, please send an email to me!
Recycling Electronics
- Return used cell phones to the manufacturers or donate them to charity.
- Return iPods to Apple for recycling or sell them for parts.
- Take e-waste to Goodwill or to stores like Best Buy and Staples that have recycling programs.
- Search Earth 911's database of recycling locations across the U.S.
- Battery Solutions sells boxes that you can fill up with batteries (both rechargeable and non-rechargeable), cell phones, PDAs, iPods, and others. The $24 fee includes a pre-paid FedEx shipping label.
- GreenDisc recycles CDs, DVDs, video and audio tapes, and their cases. You can also send in most computer related waste-anything from printer cartridges to mice to laptops. It costs $6.95 to process up to 20lbs of waste.
- Waste Management's Think Green program sells recycling kits for batteries, CFLs, fluorescent tubes, and electronics. Prices vary depending on item. Fill the box they send you and mail it in.
For Your House
The reason that it is so important to save electricity in your home is that the buildings and homes in the United States contribute more carbon dioxide than all of the cars and trucks combined.
If you own a home or are purchasing a pre-existing home, you can take advantage of the programs offered by your energy provider. You may be able to improve the energy efficiency of your house by participating in programs such as a free energy audits and rebates from purchasing high-efficiency appliances.
Each of these energy providers offer rebates:
Ames Energy Saving Programs
http://www.cityofames.org/SmartEnergy/
Smart Energy is a suite of energy programs aimed at improving comfort, reducing bills, and contributing to the reliability of the electric system. These programs keep electric rates low and improve our environment. Programs focus on demand side energy management, utility load management, development of alternative energy resources, and education.
Did you know that you can even get a $2 rebate on every compact fluorescent lightbulb that you purchase, up to 100/year!
Alliant Energy Energy Efficiency
http://alliantenergy.com/UtilityServices/ForYourHome/index.htm
Featuring easy energy savers, reward programs, appliance repair plans, safety reminders and more for your home. From insulation to air conditioning and laundry to light bulbs, you can earn cash back or take advantage of low-interest financing on energy-saving products through
Alliant Energy's cash rewards for Iowa homeowners.
Midland Power Energy Efficiency
http://www.midlandpower.com/default.aspx
Did you know that Midland Power Cooperative offers
rebates for many items? They also sell a wide variety of high quality electric products. Rebates are available to Midland Power members only. Prices and rebates are subject to modifications. All equipment must be UL approved and ASRI certified to qualify for rebates.
If you are interested in
building a new home with Green Features, please contact me. I can provide details for you from builders in the Ames area.
For your day to day life
To determine how close a house is to places that you will frequent, you can check the walk score. A higher score indicates the ability to walk places rather than needing to drive.
Find the Walk Score for a house:
http://www.walkscore.com/
Use reuseable bags for your shopping
Each bag used twice a week for 2 years saves:
- 832 plastic bags
- enough petroleum to drive 60 miles
- 11 lbs of garbage
- $140 city dollars spent on disposal
Measuring a bag's environmental impact
Find a Recycling Center
http://earth911.com/
Garbage breakdown
o plastics take 500 years
o aluminum cans take 500 years
o organic materials take 6 months
o cotton, rags, and paper take 6 months.