Five Things to Consider Doing Today; Earth Day 2011

Today, April 22, 2011, people around the world will be celebrating Earth Day. Most of us – like me - don’t have celebrations on our calendar, but particularly given recent events like the Tsunami in Japan and gas prices inching up to $5 a gallon, we might take just a minute or two to think about little changes we could make that could make our planet smile and might even save us some money.

Several years ago, I was the first Realtor in the Pensacola marketplace to complete a new designation; EcoBroker. I have to be honest and say that the real reason I spent the money and took the required courses was because I had always been interested in energy savings and recycling, but had no idea how a home could be built in an eco-friendly manner. But in addition to introducing me to LEED certified homes and ICF construction techniques, the course actually opened my eyes to the many opportunities we all have daily to do our small part, make our lives more comfortable and take care of Mother Earth.

So here are my Top Five Things to Consider Doing on Earth Day 2011.

1.    Green Your Office – It’s easy to decrease the negative impact your office has on our environment. Commit to recycling, agree to get rid of disposable goods in the kitchen or coffee break area, add a bike rack.
2.    Shop Locally – Not only will you be supporting your local economy, you will reduce the packing materials and negative environmental impacts of shipping.
3.    Go Car Free – As often as possible. For those of us with real estate careers, this can be difficult, but we did install that bike rack up in step one so let’s use the bike when possible!
4.    Look Into Tax Breaks – While the $1,500 tax credits for upgrading to more energy efficient appliances are no longer available, you can still get a credit to cover up to 10% of your improvements up to a $500 cap.
5.    Learn Something New – Ever wonder what Energy Star really means or how much electricity CFL bulbs really save? Spend a half hour and do a little research

Guest blogger Robin Sherman is a Broker Associate, Certified Residential Specialist, EcoBroker and self-proclaimed tree hugger plying her real estate trade in the Greater Pensacola Bay Area. Robin blogs regularly at www.PensacolaForYou.com.