Archive for the ‘Going Green’ Category

Show Your Brooklyn Home Some TLC this Thanksgiving

Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011

iStock_000016321998XSmallWithin the walls of your house, you’ve probably raised a family, made future plans and created years of memories. Take time this month to be thankful for everything your Brooklyn home has given you if you just Show Your Brooklyn Home Some TLC this Thanksgiving .

With Christmas right around the corner, I know it’s hard to justify spending a lot of money on your Brooklyn home. Below are a few easy and affordable green projects for you to do this Thanksgiving holiday — and they’ll start paying off immediately!

Buy compact florescent light bulbs. You don’t have to do this all at once. As your light bulbs burn out, replace them with these energy savers for around $3 a piece. They last about ten times longer than incandescent light bulbs and can save you close to $40 over their lifetime.

  • Use faucet aerators. These only cost about $10 and are incredibly easy to install. Just unscrew your faucet nozzle or showerhead and slip the aerator in. It can cut your water bill in half by making the water squeeze through tiny holes, which makes it feel like there is more pressure. You’ll also reduce water heating bills because the less hot water you use, the less you’ll have to heat.
  • Put in ceiling fans. If you don’t have these in your house, then you’re missing out on a huge energy-saver. Starting around $50, ceiling fans push hot air down and help equalize each room’s temperature — just switch the blade rotation for summer and pull cool air up.
  • Replace your old toilet. Older toilets can dispense almost 3.5 gallons per flush, while modern low-flow toilets dispense as little as 1 gallon. If you’re in for more of a handyman challenge, you can purchase these for as low as $150. The more people you have in your house, the more savings you’ll see.

Not only will your Brooklyn home and finances thank you for the green upgrades, but the environment will too.

If you’d like more green ideas you can implement this Thanksgiving break, please call me at (718) 253-9600 ext 206 or email me at [email protected].

What to do with those Outdated Items in your Brooklyn Home

Sunday, October 16th, 2011

What to do with those Outdated Items in your Brooklyn Home

If your Brooklyn home is starting to look like a landfill, you’re not alone. You’d like to get rid of all the old stuff you don’t use anymore, but you want to be responsible and don’t know where to take it, right?

Here are some of the most common obsolete items and ideas on what to do with them.

·        Technotrash: This is computer-related waste, VHS tapes, cassette tapes, CDs, DVDs and other obsolete accessories.  A company called GreenDisk can handle all your technotrash disposal needs by safely and securely destroying your old data, recovering reusable components, and recycling all of the rest of your accumulated technotrash.

  • Old electronics: Also known as e-waste, this includes old appliances, TVs and monitors that contain valuable metals that can be recycled, along with other hazardous heavy metals that need to be handled responsibly. Many communities sponsor an E-waste Day, when everyone can bring their old appliances in for safe disposal. Some retailers have recycling programs where you can earn gift cards by trading in old electronics.
  • Shoes: Don’t trash those outdated shoes or ones you just don’t wear anymore. Soles4Souls is a charity that wants all gently-worn shoes. You can find drop-off locations near your Brooklyn home. The shoes will be sent to people in need around the world.
  • Old medicines: If you have medications that are past their expiration date or that you don’t want or need any longer, don’t flush them. Drugs are becoming a serious problem in water supplies and groundwater.  You can now buy a postage-paid envelope to responsibly dispose of many prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs. The Dispose My Meds program is an online resource to help you find local pharmacies that will take back expired or unwanted drugs.

Now that you know where to take your old obsolete stuff, you’re well on your way to getting your Brooklyn home clean and de-cluttered. If your next step is to get it on the market, I can help with that too! Contact me call today Charles D’Alessandro Your Brooklyn real estate agent with Fillmore Real Estate at 718/253-9600 ext 206 or email me at [email protected],

Save Money, Save Energy, Save the Earth at Your Brooklyn Home

Monday, September 19th, 2011

 

Save Money,Save Energy,Save The Earth

 

Saving money and saving the planet go hand-in-hand. It’s all about being thoughtful, creative, and into DIY – doing it yourself. Here are some ways you can save money, Save Money, Save Energy, Save the Earth at Your Brooklyn Home

  • Be seasonal. Dress, cook and eat according to the weather. If it’s hot outside, dress accordingly, and keep the thermostat in the high 70s. Don’t use the oven in summertime; eat and drink cold fare. When it’s cold, wear a sweater, and keep the temperature in your Brooklyn home in the high 60s. Winter is the time to bake and to eat warm, hearty food.
  • Use a clothesline. The clothes dryer is an energy hog. Let the sun and wind do it instead. Go ahead and fluff the wet laundry briefly in the dryer on the air fluff cycle before hanging it. You’ll be surprised how fast your sheets will dry, and how smooth your clothes come out, compared to the rumpled look they get from the dryer. And the truly fresh scent beats the cloying smell of fabric sheets any day.
  • Keep air filters clean. Professionals recommend that you check the filters on the air conditioner and furnace in your Brooklyn home once a month, and clean or replace when needed. This will keep your heating and cooling systems working efficiently and extend their life.
  • Grow your own. Farmer’s markets are great, but there’s nothing like going right outside the door of your own  home to get the freshest ingredients for your meals. Even if you’re an apartment dweller, you can grow fresh herbs (and more) in pots.
  • Use cloth diapers. If you don’t want your child to live next to the disposable diaper landfill in 20 years, don’t create it today.
  • Get rid of the gas-hog. Still driving an SUV or truck? Don’t be fuelish. Trade it in for a used car that gets over 30 mpg.

There are more money-saving tips to read on my blog. Subscribe for free today and get new tips automatically emailed to you.

Help the Environment by Adding Green to Your Brookyn Real Estate

Thursday, August 25th, 2011

Recently, environmentally friendly or “green” remodeling has become more and more popular. Nearly every day you see a TV show or online article giving tips on how to make your Brooklyn home and life more eco-friendly.

The catch is that green building can sometimes be extremely expensive. And, in most areas there really aren’t enough buyers specifically looking for features like rain water catch basins and solar panels to make it worth your investment. However, there are some relatively inexpensive ways you can remodel your Brooklyn real estate that will benefit the environment and go easy on your wallet at the same time.

Refurbish what you can while remodeling. If it’s possible to refinish existing cabinets and woodwork instead of replacing them, you’ll save yourself tons of money. And, nothing says eco-friendly like re-using old, good quality materials instead of throwing them in a landfill.

  • Pay for extra insulation. If you’re doing a major remodel or building from scratch, pay for insulation that exceeds the minimum code requirements. You’ll see an immediate reduction in utility bills and that can be a great selling feature in the future.
  • Use sustainable and green materials. Low VOC paints and bamboo flooring are eco-friendly and still look great. You don’t have to sacrifice your overall vision in order to make your home more environmentally sound.
  • Invest in new, energy-efficient appliances. Again, you’ll see an immediate reduction in your power bills. Besides, what buyer wouldn’t love brand new kitchen appliances and a modern, tankless water heater?
  • Upgrade your windows. The biggest drain on the overall insulation of your home could be old, worn-out windows. By replacing them with new, energy-efficient ones, you’ll get immediate benefits that your potential buyers will also appreciate.

With smart planning and careful use of your money, you can remodel your home in ways that will help the environment, save you money and appeal to buyers when it’s time to sell.

If you could use help adding some green to your Brooklyn real estate, call me at call Charles D’Alessandro Your Brooklyn Realtor® with Fillmore Real Estate at 718/253-9600 ext 206 or email me at [email protected], for more information.

Go Green in Your Brooklyn Home to Save Green

Friday, June 24th, 2011


Going Green in Your Brooklyn Home for Sale!

Is it really possible to go green and save money without spending all your free time recycling?  Yes, if you start small and think sensibly.  You don’t have to single handedly save the planet.

Keep reading for a few simple things you can do in your Brooklyn home this week to help the environment, save money and enjoy still enjoy your free time.

Make It

OK, you may be thinking, there’s no way I’m going to get into making a bunch of stuff.  Hear me out before you throw in the towel.  You can quickly, easily and inexpensively make green household cleaners.  All you need are a few inexpensive ingredients like vinegar, baking soda and lemon.

Buy in Bulk

Do this in a practical way.  Don’t worry about all that time consuming extreme couponing.  Stock up on staples with a long shelf life like canned goods and paper products, when they’re on sale.

Reuse

Don’t go crazy trying to figure out how to reuse your aluminum foil or dryer lint.  Instead, get a water filter and a reusable water bottle; then stop buying bottled water.

Do-It-Yourself

You’ll save serious money when you tackle a few weekend projects to maintain or upgrade your Brooklyn home.  Consider the cost of heating and cooling.  If you add weather-stripping, install a programmable thermostat or improve your insulation, you’ll save big utility bucks.

Borrow instead of Buying

How many times have you actually reread all of the books on your shelf?  Once or twice? Rediscover your public library.  It’s an amazing place these days that has gone way beyond just books.  They now have audio books, e-books, DVDs and video games.  All for free!

Want to buy a green Brooklyn home?  I can help you find a home that’s already green or that’s easy to convert.  Give me Charles D’Alessandro Your Brooklyn Realtor® with Fillmore Real Estate a call today at 718/253-9600 ext 206 or email me at [email protected].