Refrigerator coil cleaning a simple green solution

The simple job of cleaning  your refrigerator coil is an easy way to make sure you are not wasting energy in the kitchen.  Refrigerators are energy hogs that can use up to 15% of your total energy consumption.  For those who can’t afford to upgrade to a newer energy efficient model. cleaning the coil regularly can help keep energy waste to a minimum.  Women, you may be thinking that this is one of those “guy” jobs but I speak from experience, this is easy.

I was recently faced with a refrigerator that was running but not cooling.  As I watched the ice and all the contents of my freezer begin to thaw, I was faced with a dilimma; do I try to find a place to put everything and wait for an appliance repair service call or do I try to resolve this problem on my own.  As I looked at the stuff in my fridge, I decided to try to fix it on my own.

I googled, refrigerator that runs but doesn’t cool and cleaning the coil was over an over the recommended trouble shooting.  So, here is what I did:

1. Pulled the fridge away from the wall and unplugged it.
2. Removed the cover plate across the bottom to expose the coils.
3. Removed all debris from the coils with a brush, then vaccuumed the coils until they were clean.
4. Replaced the cover plate which just was snap on clips.
5. Plugged in the refrigerator.
6. To my astonishment, it began cooling immediately so I pushed it back into place.

Older refrigerators may have the coils located in the back instead of the bottom.  If you can not move your built in appliance, turn off the breaker before proceeding. 

In five minutes I saved the $80 I would have paid for someone to come to my home to do the same thing.  I also probably helped my fridge to run more efficiently and use less energy.  The coils function to dissipate the heat produced in cooling.  I must admit that I had great satisfaction in the cheap thrill of fixing my refrigerator and I was unaware that I was also taking an energy saving measure.  Refrigerator coil brush…..hmmmm, stocking stuffer?

Briar Chapel; artsy and green development

Briar Chapel has dominated sales in the Chatham County market this season.  The new construction homes are green, affordable and beautiful.  It is always interesting to me to see the public’s perception.  I was recently at a small party and a woman was describing the community as “artsy”.  I didn’t know what neighborhood she was talking about until she explained more about the community and the location.  I hadn’t thought about the artsy part.

The community entrance has a stone wall and metal sculpture and artfully placed huge pottery vases here and there in the landscaping.  She told me that she rides her bike there and there is art sculpture and stylized gardens throughout the common areas.  She also said that it is a great place to ride due to the low traffic.  I am usually very observant, especially with regard to art and gardens but on this instance, I missed it.

I am not surprised that the community has done so well…buyers love new construction.  The homes offer stylish details, lots of upgrades, use of sustainable materials and building practices and great floor plans.  What you won’t get is a yard.  You will trade off having your own space and privacy for the use of the beautiful community amenities and common areas.  The homes may seem like a great value and they are if you are not planning to move in the next 5 or more years.  Buyers should know that this is an enormous development, construction will be ongoing.  When it is time to sell, you will have to beat the builders and have your home show in new condition in order to compete.  Remember that the buyers who will be looking at your home in 5 years will be thinking the same way you did when you purchased your home.

Last note, I advise anyone who is planning to purchase new construction to bring their own buyer’s agent to represent their interest in the transaction.  On site agents work for the builder and represent the builder’s interest.  In NC, you have the right to have a buyer’s agent represent your interest in the purchase of a home.  I think buyers often make the mistake thinking they will get a better deal if the builder doesn’t have to pay their agent.  The reality is that the builder will pay the same commission and usually the seller’s agent will net commission from both sides when buyers are unrepresented.  Be sure to read the NC Working with Real Estate Agents Brochure,  which should be provided by your agent, and ask questions if you don’t understand it.

Public transportation coming to Pittsboro

Ah, Pittsboro; the quintessential bedroom community.  It is a quiet little town with all the charm and rural character and located just 25 miles from Chapel Hill.  With no industry or jobs really to call their own, most residents rely on surrounding communities for employment.  Of course, the area is also a hotbed foragriculture and artists as is often the case when there is lots of land and a small population.  But, Pittsboro is no ordinary sleepy town.  This is a population that is involved in its community; that cares about the issues and elections. 

Now Pittsboro is even better with public transportation routes that will take passenger to Chapel Hill and back, daily.  You can view the schedule and see the details at this link: http://www.townofchapelhill.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=4349
The trip will cost you $3 each way but that is less than you would pay for parking.

Walkability indicator of location, location, location

Walkability is the new yardstick for buyers when considering the “location” of a property.  According to a recent study, buyers assign a higher value to a home that is within walking distance to conveniences such as grocery stores, post office and restaurants.  The study published for CEOs for Cities in August, found that when considering “new urbanism” or higher density and mixed uses, walkability accounted for buyers paying from 4% to 15% higher purchase price.

The triangle has its own area of walkability that have been strong perfomers in the real estate market.  Meadowmont and Southern Village are quinetessential examples of mixed use, walking communities that have a higher sales price/sf for the area.  North Hills in Raleigh, Cameron Village, inside the beltline (ITB) all have this in common.

From the “green” perspective, walking communities rule.  I grew up in a walking community and as a child, I was not  in a car more than a few times a month.  We walked to school, home for lunch (no packaging, no waste), church, the park, the pool, our friends to play, the store, the movies, the doctor or dentist… and the bus which we took everwhere we couldn’t walk to.  I have been there, done it and it is a good thing.

I recently saw a property near Cameron Village that I thought was a great investment.  I coaxed my husband to join me for a tour.  The home was in a little rough shape and it was on a corner lot with no back yard.  It was located 2 blocks from Cameron Village with a detached garage with an income apartment above.  I couldn’t get my husband to go in.  He hated it and the area.  What happened?  Sold the next day!  I can’t blame my husband though, he didn’t get the walkability thing.  He just saw a dated ranch with a city lot.  It will be my challenge to retrain him and my clients as the real estate trend continues.    I am not saying I am going to try to talk people into buying an urban property.  But, I will be encouraging it and letting them know that they may have to pay a little more for the luxury of walking to conveniences.

If you want to know your walkability score, enter your address at www.walkscore.com.

Solar Decathalon is the new pro bowl for solar technology

Solar enthusiasts may want to clear their calendars and make plans to visit Washington DC for the week of October 9th. On this week, the National Mall will be home to the Solar Decathalon.  The event represents an opportunity to see the cutting edge solar design, green building practices and the use of netzero (totally sustainable) energy application. 

Twenty student teams from universities and colleges all over the world will build homes using building inegrated photovoltaics (BIPV) to compete for a $100,000 prize.  The homes will be open to the public for tour.  For anyone who is considering a solar installation, this is an opportunity to see what the archetects, engineers and researchers have developed recently.  If you want to see who’s competing and root for your alma mater, check out this link from the DOE: http://www.solardecathlon.org/about.cfm

Vote for your favorite farmer’s market

One of the great things about living in the triangle is the amazing farmer’s markets.  For two summers, I managed the Fearrington farmer’s market and was so lucky to get to know the local farmers who work so tirelessly to bring the freshest produce you will find anywhere.  Getting to know the farmers broke all my pre-concieved ideas of the farmer type.  There is no question, farming is hard work and this is a group of people who are dedicated to long hours and physical labor.  But, I was surprised to learn how many of them are college educated, with even doctoral degrees.

The farmers are asking for your votes to help them win a modest prize for their market.  Please go to this link and vote:   http://www.care2.com/farmersmarket/5510.

Solar power; an advocate’s must, an investor’s bust

A typical solar installation of photovoltaic panels costs between $20,000 and $50,000 depending on the size of the home.   That sounds like a hefty price and it is. There is no doubt that the up front cost is the main barrier to making this a household staple. Even the current tax incentives making it possible to get the solar for about half price doesn’t seem to be enough to convince homeowners that this is the way to go.

 

Solar energy is much more common in other countries. The US ranks eighth in per capita usage of solar panels. Japan leads the pack with Switzerland and Germany right behind. One interesting subgroup of US solar advocates is the Amish community. Solar energy fits with their religious beliefs and their desire for independence. But overall, the US is struggling to find a place for solar technology in its economy. 

 

I believe that from a position of practicality, the US will always struggle with the technology. We are a mobile, transient society. Solar panels have a typical life expectancy of approximately twenty years. Most of us do not plan to live in our homes for twenty years and so herein lies the problem. I hate to say it, but we are a society that accepts wasteful lifestyles as normal and when it comes to electricity, wasting is our norm. Most Americans would rather spend their money on a bigger, nicer home, than to invest in a future of energy savings and lower electric bills that they will inevitably pass on to another homeowner. 

 

It will take a change in our way of living, way of thinking. My husband recently found a letter from his German immigrant relatives. They said that they missed life in their German village and that they don’t see each other much because everyone is always working here. The industrial revolution was effective in changing the way people lived and accepted as normal.   Until we have this kind of widespread change in the way we use energy, I don’t see widespread use of solar technology becoming the norm.

 

Fueling this problem is that appraisers are not educated on solar technology and often assign no additional value to the property for it. If appraisers would adjust the home for a solar install like they do for an extra bathroom or garage, it would be a little easier to justify the investment. As an EcoBroker, I have to be honest with my clients about solar. It is a great product for the right people. People who are committed to sustainable living, reducing their carbon footprint, saving the planet, doing all they can; it is a no brainer. But from an investment standpoint, there are more economical ways save energy. For those who see it from an overall value perspective, it has immeasurable benefits. For someone who can not put appreciate the non-monetary value of cleaner energy; not so much.
 

I recommend starting with a small project. Install a solar hot water heater. You can even go for a passive solar unit. Take a class at your local community college and you could probably do the installation yourself. The cost of a passive solar heater is actually cheaper than a gas or electric water heater. A word of caution though, most building codes require that you still have a water heater that is hooked up to power as a backup. The devices range from a simple box of channels mounted on the roof to high tech photovoltaic units. 

 

Geothermal technologies are a great alternative to solar. The systems are less expensive and have double the life expectancy. Because they are buried in the ground, they are less likely to be damaged and they are not as unsightly. We all hope for the day that solar panels become a home designer fashion statement. As of now though, they are more of a status symbol or badge of honor, but definitely not pretty.

 

The typical homeowner has a huge untapped opportunity to save energy in their everyday life. Replacing every incandescent bulb with a compact fluorescent and promising to never buy another is a small step that can make a huge difference in our country’s electricity demand. Replacing old appliances and HVAC systems with energy star products is also a smart investment. Appliances can use up to 25% of a homes total energy. Short showers, laundry washed with cold water, upgrading to optimal insulation, sealing air leaks around windows and doors, programmable thermostats, turning the air conditioning up a degree or the heat down a degree…just being conscious of the energy you are using will bring a reduction. 

 

Most people can not afford a solar installation and even those who have the means, may find they can not justify the cost.   I fantasize of a day when  I pull into my garage and plug my car into the outlet powered by my photovoltaic panels. I hope that will be in the future for many of us. But, if it is not in your future, I hope you will make saving energy a priority in your life in whatever way you find possible.

Month by month “to do” list to save energy in 2009

I saw an interesting commercial regarding saving energy this week.  A teenage girl denied owning a cell phone after a friend calls her on leaving her charger plugged in when not charging her phone.  The ad ended with a note to parents to follow the example of their kids and look for ways to save energy.  I am as guilty as everyone and there are plenty of ways that I can reduce my energy consumption.

If you resolve to make a list of priorities and do at least one each month, by the end of 2009 you will be greener and you will have more money in your bank account.  To help, I am giving the list of suggestions but only you know where your biggest offenders are.

January: Invest in a programmable thermostat and use it.  Program to turn the heat down at night and even in the day if you have a home where no one is home all day.  At my home, we have gotten in the habit of keeping the house a little chilly and putting on a sweater before we adjust the thermostat.

February: Insulate your pull down attic stairs.  There are lots of  do it yourself options for this major offender in winter an summer!

March: Showers use less water than bathing.  Take shorter showers and install a flow restricting shower head and insulate your hot water tank to reduce the cost of heating your water.  Turn down your water temperature ifat all possible.  Many homeowners don’t realize how hot their water is.

April: Use your dishwasher instead of washing by hand.  A dishwasher is much more efficient because it only fills once to do an entire load of dishes.  You can gain additional savings by letting dishes air dry as the heated dry cycle uses more energy, adds heat to the home in the summer and increases chemicals in the air by releasing vaporized detergents in the rinse water.  Invest in more dishes if you can’t fill your dishwasher before needing to run it.

May: Spread mulch over your garden to reduce the need for watering.  Choose natural products like shredded pine bark, pine straw, cypress or coconut husks.  An inch or two of mulch will beautify your garden and help plants survive drought, reducing your water consumption.  Gravel is not a suitable mulch as it can get very hot and damage shrubs in warm climates.

June: Plant shade trees on the southern exposure of your yard.  Adding deciduous trees (trees that drop their leaves) will provide shade in the summer and reduce cooling costs.  When trees drop their leaves in winter, you will still have the benefit of the sun to heat your home and provide light for shorter days.  Contact your local planning department to see if there are any scheduled plant rescues.  Many communities offer free plants for the taking prior to clear cutting for development.

July:  Appliances and small electrics use up to 40% of your power.  A small investment in power strips and instead of turning off the computer, the tv, the everything… will shut the power down.  If you don’t think you will unplug your chargers, put them on a power strip and you will be more likely to turn off the strip than to unplug the charger.

August: Replace your most outdated appliance with an energy star rated product.  If your appliances are more than ten years old, you will be amazed at how much appliances have improved in recent years.  A front loading washer would be my first choice for energy savings because it will do two to three times the volume with less energy and use as little as 7 gallons of water.  A standard washing machine can use up to 30 gallons/load.

September:  Put your screens in and turn off the air conditioning.  Crickets and tree frogs are a much nicer white noise than the drone of a motor.

October: Rake leaves and mulch them.  They can be added to compost or spread as much around acid loving shrubs such as rhododendren, azaleas, hydrangeas, camelias, and most evergreens.  Shredded leaf mold can make up the 50% hard to find “brown” layer in the compost pile.  Using compost and leaf mold as mulch eliminates the need for chemical fertilizers in the garden and it is free! Raking is great exercise and a strong calorie burner.

November: Before the year ends, take advantage of some of the tax credits for energy efficient upgrades.  Thermopane windows and energy star appliances will provide comfort, energy savings and beauty to your home.  If you can’t afford the upgrade, check windows for leaks and replace all leaks with caulk for just a few dollars.

December: Give up the garbage disposal and start composting.  Many towns and cities are trying to stop people from using garbage disposals because they burden the sewage treatment plant with excessive solid waste material and costly to treat oils.  Garbage disposals are polluters.  Composting will save you elecricity, the cost of repair or replacement and provide a chemical free fertilizer and mulch for your garden.  If you are not ready to compost, consider properly disposing of household waste.

I want to encourage all to take a moment to think about how we affected our planet in 2008 and consider improving on that in 2009.

2009 Could be the best year ever to buy a home

In my opinion, this is about as good as it will get for buyers.  If you are a first time buyer, the clock is ticking on the tax credit of $7500 that you will benefit from if you close by June 30th.  Note, the word close.  That means that you need to be under contract sometime in April to allow for unexpected delays. 

It is expected that interest rates will linger in and around 4.5%; a historic low.  I am a big fan of owning your home but with this interest rate out there, it is a good time to pay off other debts and put down a smaller down payment.  Buyers should also consider fifteen year terms instead of the more common 30.  Even if you don’t anticipate living in your home for more than a few years, you will pay down much more of the principle on a fifteen year note, increasing your equity value.

Consider adding green features.  There are great tax incentives for everything from a new, energy efficient furnace to solar panels.  These tax credits in some cases are so generous that when you factor in the energy savings, you will essentially get the improvements for free.  Keep in  mind, you will be putting the money out up front with a payback over time.  Adding green features and energy efficiency will also increase the value of your property. When you see that home that has the twenty year old HVAC, think opportunity.  Negotiate with the seller and take advantage of the creative ways to upgrade.

Lastly, there are special mortgage products that will allow you to finance improvements for home rehab or for addition of green features.  For the first time in a while, there is plenty of inventory property.

It is just my opinion, but I believe 2009 may be the best year ever to buy a home.  If you would like information on any of these programs or details on the tax credits, please contact me at 919-357-6064.

Furniture recycling offers an ecofriendly decorating option

Triangle Furniture Reclycers is a business that I was lucky to stumble upon that offers some ecofriendly options for decorating your home.  This fledgling business owner travels the state and shops for furniture for resale.  They do some furniture rehab when necessary.  Many of the pieces are high quality and in very good condition. 

The business owner offers a helpful website which has photos for internet shopping.  The great thing is that this is an entrepreneur who is saving our landfills and offering very affordable, quality furniture to his clients.  The owner has an eye for classic, timeless design.  I give him a thumbs up and predict that this business will continue to grow as he fills the need for a quality product that has little to no impact on the environment and responds to the need for people to pinch their pennies in the current state of our economy.  Check them out at www.trianglefurniturerecyclers.com.