What is Green

So what is this "Green" thing all about?

This is a simple, catch-all word used to describe the growing trend of living sustainably, conserving our natural resources, and being environmentally responsible.

Green Homes

There is no such thing as a "typical" green home. They can look futuristic, or blend into your neighborhood. What they do have in common is a well planned structure that uses less of our natural resources, is healthier for its occupants, costs less to maintain, and will hold its value far longer than a house built "to code". The site is carefully chosen, and works with the orientation of the home to minimize solar heat gain in the summer and maximize solar warming in the winter. The materials are selected for strength, durability, use of recycled products, non-toxicity and compatibility with the rest of the structure. Even the style of the landscape is important. See our "Categories of Green" page for more detailed information.

Green Business

Many businesses are finding that going green is not just the responsible thing to do - it can also be profitable!

Become a Green Business Today in "10 Easy Steps"

  1. Know more, do better. Increase knowledge and awareness at your office.
    • Designate a person or group of people to learn about environmentally friendly business practices.
    • Subscribe to a newsletter, research web sites, read a book, and talk to other companies that are engaged in green practices.
    • Share what is learned with other employees during meetings, through in-house newsletters, or on a company bulletin board.
  2. Make a visible commitment and display your commitment proudly.
    • Write a mission statement or modify your current mission statement to include green practices. (Ex. "Success at _____ Company includes being a good steward of the environment by reducing waste, recycling and conserving natural resources.")
    • Post and advertise your environmentally responsible mission statement internally, on your web site, and as an automatic footer on electronic communications.
  3. Initiate an in-house recycling program.
    • Make it easy for employees to dispose of products to be recycled (such as paper, cardboard, phone books, magazines, toner cartridges, plastics, cans, cell phones, batteries and glass) by placing containers throughout the office space or in each office.
    • Contract with the cleaning company or partner with a local charity to dispose of recycled products in your community.
  4. Choose office supplies wisely.
    • Switch to environmentally friendly cleaning supplies.
    • Buy remanufactured ink and toner cartridges.
    • Purchase recycled paper, unbleached or uncolored paper, or chlorine free paper.
    • Instead of buying scrap paper, use the blank side of unneeded copies.
  5. Incorporate general Green Practices.
    • Replace paper plates and styrofoam cups with real plates and mugs.
    • Set printer to print 2 sided copies.
    • Provide recycle bins.
    • Have a "Go Green" contest and reward the employee that coming up with the best way for your company to make an environmentally friendly impact.
    • Only run the dishwasher when it is full.
    • Print only when necessary.
    • Use electronic storage instead of hard copy storage whenever possible.
    • Turn off lights when leaving an office or conference room.
    • Install solar shading or window tint to reduce the heating effects of the sun.
    • Replace light and water fixtures with green products. (Change fluorescent lamps with T-8 bulbs during scheduled upgrades; add low-flow aerators to faucets; add 'fillers’ to commode tanks so they use less water when flushing.)
    • Ensure that all new and replacement equipment is "Energy Star" compliant
    • Use carafes to keep coffee hot instead of keeping burner plate on.
    • Set your computer to go to sleep when not in use. Get rid of screen savers (especially moving ones)
    • Use reverse-osmosis water purifier - get rid of bottled water.
    • Carpool as much as possible.
    • Make sure the AC air filters are cleaned or replaced regularly.
  6. Turn off all office equipment at the end of the day and on weekends.
    • Plug equipment into a power strip to make it convenient to power down.
    • Unplug power converters (cell phone chargers, radio chargers, etc.) when not in use
  7. Adjust thermostat when business is closed or install a programmable thermostat.
    • Set the thermostat to 78 degrees when cooling, 68 degrees when warming.
  8. Purchase renewable energy credits from the power company to 'offset’ energy use.
    • Most power companies have research and development programs that evaluate emerging energy technologies and your companies can purchase renewable power (for a slightly highly rate) to augment traditional power sources.
  9. As a Company, participate in a Green Event in your local community.
  10. Donate unwanted products and furniture to charity.

Green Lifestyles

Reduce

  1. Electrical Use
    • Turn off unnecessary lights, fans, appliances
    • Unplug power converters (cell phone chargers, radio chargers, etc.) when not in use (these can consume up to 7% of your electric bill)
    • Weather-strip your doors, caulk all windows. This is normal maintenance and should be checked annually.
    • Buy Energy Star® appliances - the extra price, if any, is well worth the purchase.
  2. Water Use
    • Check all fixtures, inside and out, for leaks.
    • Replace bathroom faucets, shower heads and commodes with WaterSense rated products.
    • Don’t rinse your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.
  3. Petrochemicals
    • Make sure your vehicle is tuned properly and all filters are clean
    • Carpool when possible
    • Consider a low-maintenance yard with an electric lawn mower.

Reuse

  • Save the water you use while awaiting the hot water to arrive and use it for irrigation.
  • Use rain barrels to capture runoff from your gutters
  • Use the water from your AC coils to irrigate a small patch of vegetation.

Recycle

  • Separate and recycle your household trash. There are many recycling centers in Citrus County. This can save you money on trash bills, keep items out of the landfill, and the sale of recycled items can help defray expenses at the landfill
  • Stop using your garbage disposal. This saves water and energy, along with your septic tank or sewage plant. Put your scraps in a compost pile, and use the compost to nurture your plants.

Environment

Water

  1. Domestic Use
    • Check for leaks - a faulty flapper valve on a toilet can consume hundreds of gallons per month. If you are using more than 200 gallons per person per month, you are using too much water.
    • Upgrade your fixtures. Make sure that they are labeled by Water Sense. Old toilets use three times as much water as the newest models.
    • Consider using an "instant hot" heater on faucets far away from the water heater. Running water until it gets warm wastes a great deal. Trade-off - this type of heater will consume a little more electricity.
    • Wait until your dishwasher is full before running a load. Don’t waste water washing them by hand before putting them in the dishwasher. Newer models are equipped to handle the excess food left on the plates.
  2. Irrigation
    • Check for leaks, again. Make sure that the hose is shut off at the hose bibb, not at the nozzle
    • Use low-volume irrigation for your bedded plants. They will deliver the water to where it is needed without having the excess spray evaporate.
    • Minimize your turf. Use mulch, ground cover or gravel instead of thirsty grass.
    • Use a rain barrel for hand irrigation. It has no chlorine or chemicals that may harm your plants.
    • Follow the watering rules established by SWFWMD.

For more information, go to www.watermatters.org or http://fyn.ifas.ufl.edu

Yard

  1. Use slow release fertilizer
  2. Provide a habitat for native animals. Bird houses, bat houses, an undisturbed tract of native vegetation - they all help to retain our natural heritage.
  3. Make and maintain a compost pile
  4. Minimize paving, especially dark pavement. They create heat islands that can affect plants and dwellings nearby.
  5. Rid your yard of exotic invasive plants.

Trade-Offs

Almost every decision you make about upgrading your home will be a compromise. Increased water savings may cause increased energy costs. Building a "tight" house will require some sort of make up air to keep the home from becoming under pressurized.

The home must be considered as an entire system, with all parts working in concert with one another. The key to making the right decisions is in the design of the home. Decide which area of "green" you are most interested in, and use that as a guide. Make the most of professional expertise to avoid making costly mistakes. Contact this Council if you have any questions about what is right for you.