In the Kitchen
- Benefits Of Buying Local Produce
- Buy Locally Grown Apples
- Don't Pour Kitchen Grease Down The Drain
- ENERGY STAR Refrigerators and Dishwashers Save Energy and Water
- Homemade Baby Food Is A Great Way To Do Your Part
- Organic Produce That's Worth The Money
- Paper VS Plastic
- Recycling Aluminum Cans Makes Good Cents
- The Great Wine Debate
- The Never Ending Glass Recycling Story
- Turkey Talk
In the Bathroom
All Through the House
- Cleaning With Vinegar
- Control Indoor Pests Naturally
- Don't Throw It Away - FreeCycle It!
- Earth 911
- ENERGY STAR products save energy, water and money!
- ENERGY STAR Washing Machine Saves Thousands of Gallons of Water Every Year
- ENERGY STAR- New Homes
- Father's Day Green Gift Ideas
- Get To Know Those Plastic Recycling Numbers
- Green Holiday Table Decorations
- Green Volunteering
- How Plastic Is Made
- How To Properly Dispose of CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs)
- ImagiPLAY For The Holidays
- In With The New and Recycle The Old
- Indoor Air Pollution
- Let the Holidays Shine with LED Lights!
- Mother's Day Gift Ideas
- Put Your Old Cell Phone To Good Use
- Recycle Glass
- Recycling Paper Is A Success
- Recycling Plastic
- Smart Strip Power Strip Saves Energy and Money
- Soap: Bar vs Liquid
- Sponges
- Stop Junk And Other Unwanted Mail
- Terri explains Do Your Part
- The Great Diaper Debate
- Treating Pet Smells and Accidents....Naturally
- Try Baking Soda Instead of Costly Chemical Cleaners
- What do you do with old or unused medicine?
- What Is Do Your part
- Why You Should Buy Organic Cotton
In the Garage
In the Garden
- Fall Leaves
- Go Native in the Garden
- How To Set Up A Rain Barrel
- Keep Mosquitoes Away Naturally
- Kill Outdoor Pests and Weeds Without Using Toxic Chemicals
- Plants That Tolerate Drought Conditions
- Put Those Coffee Grounds To Work In Your Yard
- Reduce amount of energy needed to cool your home
- Save Our Creeks - Don't Over Fertilize
- Test Your Soil Before You Fertilize
- Tree Banding
ENERGY STAR- New Homes
Energy Star is a program that rates high energy efficient appliances and electronics.But did you know that Energy Star also rates new homes?
Homes that earn the Energy Star rating are 20% to 30% more energy efficient than standard homes.
A home being built by Pfahl Custom Builders in Charlotte offers many energy saving features, among them a radiant barrier made of aluminum that keeps heat out of the attic.
Tightly sealed walls, windows, ducts and crawl space that will lead to lower utilitiy bills. Susan Pfahl of Pfahl Custom Builders says that’s not the only benefit. "Cleaner air quality, the intrusion of soil gases would be eliminated and the infiltration of outdoor pollutants so there is an healthier environment insides the home."
Energy Star rated homes are a bit more expensive but they will save you money in the long run
"Over the life of the house its invaluable especially with fossil fuels going up, electricity going up. It’s very definitely worth the money to get started" Pfahl said.
Energy Star homes are verified by an independent home energy rater. You can find a listing of builders in our area that have constructed Energy Star homes on energystar.gov.
By purchasing an Energy Star rated home, you’ll be doing your part from the ground up.
