REALTOR®

View the Guide From learning how much home you can afford to understanding the loan process, this guide takes the guesswork out of buying.		Make It Green Pack your eco-friendly belongings in slightly used boxes. Research renewable electricity. With a little homework, it's easy to make your move green.

		Regional Moving Resources You know where you'd like to move, now find out where to learn the most about the area.

Make It Green

Green for Buyers

• Ask sellers how environmentally aware they are, or if they’ve made any investments in their home to save energy or promote conservation.
• Ask to see the energy bills from the home you are looking to buy.
• See if appliances staying with the home carry the Energy Star label.
• Check for air leaks through windows and under doors.
• Inquire about flooring, cabinetry and countertop materials. Are they eco-friendly?
• Are the toilets, faucets and showerheads low-flow?
• Ask when the heating and cooling system (HVAC) was last checked and cleaned.
• Ensure that pipes are well-insulated, and check whether a tankless water heater is used.

Green for Cleaning

Indoor pollutant levels can be from two to more than 100 times higher than outdoors, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. That indoor pollution is due in large part to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that evaporate, or “offgas,” from home decorating and cleaning products. Make sure you’re breathing quality air in your home by following these green cleaning suggestions:

• Look for plant oils in detergents, rather than petroleum. Coconut oil is a good choice. Eucalyptus, rosemary and sage oils are also safer choices than triclosan when it comes to disinfectants.
• Use fragrance-free laundry detergents, which don’t contain cancer-causing phthalates.
• Mix your own stain removers. Soak stains in water mixed with borax, lemon juice, hydrogen peroxide, washing soda or white vinegar.
• Open a window! If the air is clean outside, it’s a greener way to freshen up a room than by using aerosol air fresheners.
• Baking soda and vinegar get the green light as all-around cleaning alternatives. They can do anything from deodorizing to cleaning the oven or removing stains on countertops, bathtubs and toilet bowls.
• For sparkling drinking glasses, occasionally soak them in a solution of vinegar and water.
• Use the dishwasher. Hand-washing dishes actually wastes more water. Adding one cup of white vinegar to your dishwasher’s rinse compartment will leave your dishes spot free.
• Skip the antibacterial, antimicrobial soaps. The FDA has found that these work no better than good old soap and water. Plus, they could even add to the risk of breeding “super germs,” bacteria that survive the chemicals we use and have resistant offspring.
• Don’t throw out your old cleaning products. What’s bad for your home is also bad for drains and landfills, so check to see if your community holds toxic and electronics recycling days and discard them there. If your community doesn’t have a program yet, start one!

Green Lifestyle

• Invest in a water filter. It’s a much greener (and cheaper!) choice than buying and discarding plastic water bottles. Think about this when you’re in the bottled water aisle: It takes approximately 1,000 years for plastic water bottles to biodegrade.
• Bring your own bags to the store instead of using their plastic bags. If you must use a plastic bag, think of a way to reuse it as a trash bag for your bathroom waste can or for collecting pet droppings from the yard.
• Wash and reuse plastic plates and cups instead of buying and throwing away paper or Styrofoam every time you have a barbeque, picnic or party.
• Bring your own mug every time you go get coffee. Being green is even trendier than toting around that branded cardboard cup.
• Pay bills and bank online. Just think how much paper you’ll save, not to mention the money you’ll save on stamps.
• Start a compost pile in your backyard. Alternate layers of garden waste and food scraps with thin layers of soil and stir every one to three weeks. Once the pile turns dark and crumbly, work into your garden or lawn as a conditioner.
• Carpool, bike or use public transportation when you’re traveling to work, school or shopping.
• Utilize the sun when you want to light your home during the day. Open blinds and let the sun shine in instead of flipping on the light switch in every room of the house.
• Get involved in a local club that promotes green awareness, sets up community recycling programs and interacts with government officials when it comes to environmental legislation. Not only will you do your part for the environment, but you’ll also meet new and interesting people!

Green On a Budget

• Switch to compact fluorescent lightbulbs. Even changing just the five most frequently-used bulbs in your house can save you $100 or more per year!
• Install low-flow shower heads or place a water-displacement bag in your toilet tank to cut down on water waste.
• Buy local produce. This cuts down on paper and plastic packaging waste and also reduces the amount of fossil fuels used in the transportation of products.
• Set your thermostat to 78°F or higher in the summer and 62°F or lower in the winter to save $100 or more on your energy bill each year.
• Drive less by walking, biking or taking the bus. Initiate a carpool for trips to and from work, school or other activities.
• Utilize power strips and cut down on "vampire electricity," which is the electricity used while appliances and electronics are plugged into an outlet but not in use. By flipping the "off" switch on a power strip, you’ll quickly put a stop to this.
• Incorporate native plants into your yard. They’re more adapted to local soil and climate and will thrive with minimal care – meaning less water, fertilizer and pesticides used for maintenance.
• Let your grass grow. Most varieties fare best at two and a half inches tall, absorbing more sunlight and creating thicker turf, meaning less water needed for your lawn.
• Do full loads of laundry and dishes as a way to save gallons of wasted water every week. Use cold water whenever possible.

Recycling Dos and Don’ts

Each community has its own regulations on what can be recycled and what cannot. Check with your community recycling program to see what’s OK before you start. We’ve found that, in most communities, the following recycling dos and don’ts usually apply.

OK to recycle:

• High-quality plastics labeled with number one and two recycling symbols.
• Food and beverage containers, such as milk, soda, water, salad dressings etc.
• Jars and canisters, like peanut butter jars, soap, aspirin bottles, etc.
• Cleaning products and detergents, including bleach, soap, shampoo, drain cleaners etc.
• Automotive and yard care products, but make sure the containers are empty.
• Junk or direct mail, including brochures, fliers, white/light envelopes etc.
• Aluminum, tin and steel cans, such as soda, beer, tuna, vegetable etc.
• Printed paper like newspaper, magazines, phone books, legal pads etc.