King County Solid Waste and its “Green Tools” program hosts a web site designed to serve King County residents in green building initiatives. The site, GreenTools, helps residents address issues such as sustainable development, energy efficiency, critical habitat restoration, and solid waste reduction. Residents benefit from GreenTools’ resources including technical assistance, grants and incentives, and hands-on training for their green building projects.

Even though the site is addressed to King County residents, it offers a wealth of resources for anyone desiring to undertake a green building project. A sampling of the topics include listings of commercial and residential green building incentives, a do-it-yourself home energy audit guide, and links to the GreenTools blog and newsletter. The Eco-Cool Remodel Tool demonstrates ways to “green up” your remodeling project via an interactive virtual house.

To explore the resources offered at GreenTools, go to www.greentools.us.

Begin the journey toward a higher performance home today and “deepen your green.” But don’t make the journey alone – Sustainable Options & Solutions is your guide. Linda will come alongside and show you where to start, helping you explore ways to lower your impact with common sense reality.

• Lower your utility bills by reducing air leakage and heating costs, and evaluating your appliances, electronics, lighting, refrigeration, and water heating for ways to conserve.
• Create higher indoor air quality by reducing air leakage, ensuring proper venting, and reviewing lower impact materials.
• Provide considerations for site and water conservation through landscaping choices and water usage.
• Lower your maintenance costs by choosing materials that require less attention from you.
• Reduce your home’s carbon footprint for the benefit of future generations.

To guide our clients in the journey toward higher performance homes, we work as an aggregator to package and implement resources available from regional utilities and energy conservation programs.

CLICK to download the PDF brochure

CLICK to download the PDF brochure

IDEAS TO LOWER THE IMPACTS OF EVERYDAY LIVING

Lower Your Utility Bills

1.  Switch to Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) can be a huge energy saver. Replace some (or
all) of your incandescent bulbs with fluorescents and enjoy reductions in heat
production, energy use, and electric bills!
Savings: Changing five of the most frequently used light bulbs in your home could save you $100 per year on electric bills!

2.  Program Your Thermostat
When you are at home, keep the thermostat at 78° F or higher in the summer and 62°F or lower in the winter. Programmable thermostats allow you to program the systems to reduce output when they are not needed (e.g., when no one is home during the day, or in the evening when everyone is sleeping).
Savings: Could reduce your energy bill by $100 per year or more!

3.  Plug Air Leaks
This simple step can go a long way toward keeping your home at the temperature you desire, saving money on heating and air conditioning bills and more. Common leaks occur around windows, doors, and other wall penetrations. Plugging those leaks with weather stripping and caulk can be a simple task for anyone! Reducing air leaks and venting create a higher degree of indoor air quality.
Savings: Could reduce your energy bill by $100 per year or more!

4.  Tune Up Your Heating and Cooling (HVAC) System
Have a checkup for your HVAC system every 2 years to make sure it is running efficiently. Be sure to clean the filter monthly during times of peak usage; a dirty filter can significantly reduce the efficiency of your HVAC and indoor air quality.
Savings: Could reduce your energy bill by $100 per year or more!

5 Choose ENERGY STAR® Appliances
ENERGY STAR® qualified products meet a high level of energy efficiency, which could translate into savings on electric bills. When considering the price of a new appliance, take into account not only the purchase price, but also the long-term savings associated with an energy-efficient appliance.
Savings: Could reduce your energy bill by $50 per appliance per year or more!

6.  Reduce Water Use
Indoor: Use less water by adding aerators (available for a few dollars at your local home supply store) to your sink faucets and changing to low-flow shower-heads.
Outdoor: Incorporate native plants in your landscape plan and minimize high-maintenance landscaping such as turf grass to conserve water, while still maintaining a beautiful lawn.
Savings: Could reduce your water bill by as much as $100 per year!

7.  Switch to Green Power
Green Power is an optional utility service for customers who would like to help expand the production and distribution of renewable energy technologies. With green power, you do not have to change your electricity provider. Instead, customers choose to pay a premium on their electricity bill to cover the extra cost of purchasing clean, sustainable energy. More info on green power can be found at: http://www.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/markets/index.shtml.

Choose Green Products

8.  Buy Local
Buying local produce reduces the amount of fossil fuels required for the transportation of products from other parts of the country or the world. It also reduces the amount of plastic and paper products consumed in the packaging of such far-traveling products. Buying local reduces consumption of valuable natural resources.

9.  Use Low-VOC Products
Improve your indoor air quality by switching to products that don’t give off “volatile organic compounds” (VOCs). Some common low- VOC or no-VOC products include:

• Paint: A low-VOC paint is available from most major paint brands
• Cleaning products: Low-VOC cleaning alternatives are available for sale, or you can make your own VOC-free cleaning products using simple household materials like baking soda, vinegar and borax.

10.  Use Wood Alternatives or FSC-certified Wood Products
The type of flooring and cabinetry materials you use can have a positive effect on your health and pocketbook while reducing your environmental impacts.

• Consider using environmentally preferable and rapidly renewable products such as linoleum, bamboo, recycled content tile or non-VOC carpet.
• Choose wood products from sustainably managed forests, such as those certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
• Use locally sourced products when possible to reduce carbon emissions associated with the transportation of those products.

11.  Use Rapidly Renewable Flooring Materials
Now there are affordable, durable, and rich-looking flooring options made from grasses and trees that mature in roughly half of the time (or less!) than it takes hardwoods to reach market size. Bamboo, cork, and eucalyptus flooring products are a sustainable alternative to traditional hardwoods.

Green Your Yard

12.  Plant Trees to Provide Shade and Wind Protection for Your House
This simple step could help you save money on heating and air conditioning bills while providing beautiful views around your home.

13.  Use Native Plantings
Native plants have been growing and evolving in your area for thousands of years and, as a result, have adapted to the local soils and climate. As a result they are more likely to thrive with minimal care, unlike exotic plants. That can mean less need for water, fertilizer and pesticides. Additional info on green landscaping techniques can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/reg3esd1/garden/.

14.  Use Nontoxic Gardening Techniques
Many gardeners over-apply or improperly apply pesticides, putting themselves, their families, and pets at increased health risk. Nearly half of all households have pesticides stored within reach of children. About 230,000 people each year are treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries relating to various lawn and garden tools. Our clean air and drinking water are affected by pesticides and garden equipment emissions.

Green Your Transportation

15.  Carpool, Use Public Transportation, Walk or Bike When Possible
Environmental responsibility does not begin and end at your doorstep; green transportation means could greatly reduce your energy expenditures and carbon emissions from your daily
routine.

16.  Buy a High-efficiency Car
See the U.S. Department of Energy’s list of most fuel efficient cars at http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bestworst.shtml.

From the U.S. Green Building Council web site: www.usgbc.org

CLICK to download the PDF brochure

At Sustainable Options & Solutions, Linda can help you find incentives and rebates available through regional utilities and state or federal programs. Ask Linda about the following programs that could increase your business or home’s performance:

• HomePrint at Puget Sound Energy (www.PSE.com), a comprehensive evaluation of your everyday energy use.
• The Conservation Incentive Program at Cascade Natural Gas (www.CNGC.com) provides cash incentives towards energy-efficient home improvements.
• Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency, or DSIRE, (www.DSIREUSA.org) is a comprehensive resource for state, local, utility, and federal incentives.

Linda stays abreast of current developments in incentive programs and follows new programs from their inception to implementation. Ask her to keep you informed about these new programs:

• The Sustainable Skagit Home certification program is a holistic approach to assessing and reducing the environmental footprints of residential homes in Skagit County. The program will focus on reducing energy consumption, waste production, and water use.
• Home Star, a federally funded program, will offer federal incentives and rebates under two programs:
  • Silver Star – will provide rebates up to $3,000.
  • Gold Star – will provide up to $8,000 to conduct a comprehensive energy audit and for sustainably reducing the energy use in one’s home.